Japan to start sales tax debate after July vote

Japan will start debating a possible sales tax hike after next month's upper house elections to rein in the nation's bulging debt, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said Monday, stressing that sturdy finances are vital for supporting a strong economy and society.

Kan said that a decision on raising the consumption tax, now at 5 percent, likely wouldn't come for at least two to three years, but said a recent proposal by the opposition conservatives to raise it to 10 percent could be considered.

"Strong finances are indispensable for economic growth and social security," he told a news conference, vowing to continue the government's effort to slash wasteful …