As campaigning for the Upper House election began Thursday, voters voiced their opinions on key topics that could change the course of the nation, such as the planned consumption tax hike, the pension system and constitutional amendment.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government plans to raise the consumption tax from 8 percent to 10 percent in October, but opposition parties are against this, saying it will further strain purse strings.
Kawasaki resident Kazumi Taniuchi, 68, is worried that the tax hike will increase financial pressure at a time when she and her retired husband have already been trying to cut their spending now that they are both reliant on pensions.