Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s proposal to cut the sales tax on food is estimated to cost around $30 billion a year. I’ve got a better idea. The amount is almost exactly what it would cost to give every citizen a $20 ChatGPT or Claude subscription.

Generative AI is transforming sectors across almost every country. But Japan is in a position to benefit more than most. The technology could be an overnight fix for some very specific but seemingly intractable problems that have been a drag on productivity for years.

The first is English-language proficiency. Japan consistently ranks low on international surveys, with one placing it 96th among 123 countries last year. While daily conversation has improved amid the tourism boom, overall ability lags.

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