Ex-Govt Tax Panel Head Ishi Dies at 81

August 29, 2018

Tokyo- Noted public finance expert Hiromitsu Ishi, who chaired the Japanese government's Tax Commission, died of pancreatic cancer at a Tokyo hospital Saturday. He was 81.

Ishi, honorary professor at Hitotsubashi University, became professor at the national institute in 1977. He served as the university's president between 1998 and 2004.

He chaired the Tax Commission, which advises the prime minister, for two three-year terms from 2000, leading discussions on fiscal reconstruction and tax system reforms.

In 2005, the commission proposed a cut in employment income deductions affecting salaried workers just ahead of a Tokyo metropolitan assembly election, drawing criticism from many sides including the Liberal Democratic Party.

The commission also paved the way for the 2007 termination of fixed-rate individual income and residential tax cuts, which were introduced as permanent measures in 1999 after Japan plunged into a serious banking crisis.

In 2006, LDP lawmaker Shinzo Abe started his first stint as prime minister under a slogan that rejected fiscal reconstruction without economic growth.

The administration did not allow Ishi, a proponent of a consumption tax hike, to serve a third term as commission chairman.

After leaving the panel, Ishi served as president of Open University of Japan. Jiji Press