Tax-inclusive retail pricing is among the more visible new measures that went into effect Thursday at the start of Japan's new fiscal year.
The new method requires retailers and service providers to display price tags that include the 5 percent consumption tax. Previously, most retailers showed prices with the tax excluded.
Theoretically, the revision does not affect the amounts paid by shoppers. Tax authorities argue that the move is in the interests of consumers, ensuring that "what you see is what you pay."