NHK's program "Heroes' Choices," which focuses on heroes who made decisions that changed history, will air "The Meiji 'Tax Cut' Controversy: Okubo Toshimichi and the Land Tax Reform" on NHK BS from 9:00 PM on November 17th. The program will explore the Land Tax Reform, a major turning point in modern Japan, and the choices made by Okubo Toshimichi.
The change from rice-based annual tax to a uniform tax across the nation... The introduction of the Land Tax Reform in 1873 (Meiji 6) marked a major turning point in Japanese society. However, the people strongly opposed the new system, leading to the largest peasant uprising of the Meiji period.
Should he choose to temporarily reduce taxes in order to introduce a modern tax system like that of Europe and the United States to Japan? Or should he not reduce taxes and instead use force to suppress the uprisings? Okubo Toshimichi, who is in charge of the land tax reform, is forced to make a choice.
What does tax mean to the Japanese? We explore its roots in the tax cut controversy of the Meiji era.
