The centerpiece of the prime minister 's economic policy has been the doubling of the country 's sales tax , from the current 5 % to 10 % by October 2015 . Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is Japan 's sixth head of government in five years . Japan is still recovering from last year 's quake , tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown . Japan and the U.S. agreed last week to relocate some U.S. troops based on Okinawa . Noda and Obama held bilateral talks , then a working day and a news conference .
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is Japan 's sixth head of government in five years . Japan is still recovering from last year 's quake , tsunami and a nuclear plant meltdown . Japan and the U.S. agreed last week to relocate some U.S. troops based on Okinawa . Noda and Obama held bilateral talks , then a working day and a news conference .