nhk world's senior commentator masayo nakajima is here to give us some perspective on this story. so how necessary is this extra tax revenue? >> well, noda wants to reduce the government's spending deficit. but the extra tax revenue still won't be enough to balance the budget. you know, japan's fiscal standing is the worst among developed nations. its debt is twice its gross domestic product and it's facing rising social security costs, too. some economists are concerned that it could face a similar fate as greece and italy. but noda's plan is facing strong criticism from opposition parties and even among members of the ruling democratic party. they insist noda has not fulfilled his promises of maintaining fiscal discipline and making social security system more sustainable. japanese voters are critical, too. they want more cuts to wasteful government spending before raising tax. >> translator: before the government raises the tax rate, it has other things to do. >> translator: we have no real choice, but it means less money for my family. i'm not happy. >> how will this pushback

nhk world's senior commentator masayo nakajima is here to give us some perspective on this story. so how necessary is this extra tax revenue? >> well, noda wants to reduce the government's spending deficit. but the extra tax revenue still won't be enough to balance the budget. you know, japan's fiscal standing is the worst among developed nations. its debt is twice its gross domestic product and it's facing rising social security costs, too. some economists are concerned that it could face a similar fate as greece and italy. but noda's plan is facing strong criticism from opposition parties and even among members of the ruling democratic party. they insist noda has not fulfilled his promises of maintaining fiscal discipline and making social security system more sustainable. japanese voters are critical, too. they want more cuts to wasteful government spending before ising ta >>ranstoefe ch, usment raises the tax te more difficult.needs the opposi o eieresign'gethbi n u i'ho.as en cimhe economssn.eshg tsen fial ti ofrrulits de ly . . r . d s. . reptehio central bangkok ahead of th

. >> thank you masayo nakajima. >>> japan's self-defense forces have been ordered to shoot down any debris that threatens to crash in their country after a north korean rocket is launched next month. north korea has announced plans to launch a satellite, but japan and other countries believe it will be testing long-range ballistic missile. defense -- japan's defense minister issued the order on friday after meet with ministry and sdf officials. the plan was approved by the government's security council. the sdf will deploy pac-3 surface interceptor missiles set up in okinawa and in the tokyo metropolitan area. the sdf will also position aegis destroyers in waters around okinawa. the destroyers are fitted with sm-3 interceptors. north korea says it will launch a rocket carrying a satellite between april 12th and 16th. the rocket is expected to fly over japan's southern island chain of sakashima southwest of okinawa's main island. >>> japanese officials are asking chinese authorities to put more pressure on north korea to stop the planned rocket launch. the foreign ministries asian and asean