Corporate profits have recovered to pre-Lehman Shock levels, leading to
wage hikes and expanded employment that result in expanded consumption and
further investment. A “virtuous economic cycle” has begun to work. Under such
environment, the administration raised the consumption tax rate in April this year
for the first time in 17 years, making the first step towards achieving both
economic growth and fiscal consolidation. As people have begun to hold hopes
for the future, human talents, goods and funds have begun to move for growth
after remaining idle for a long time.