Japan to raise tobacco tax by 70 yen per pack

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TOKYO Dec 22 (Reuters) - Japan plans to raise its tobacco tax by 3.5 yen per cigarette in October 2010, a government official said on Tuesday, reading out a draft of the government's proposals on tax reform.

The tax proposals are expected to be formally approved by the cabinet later on Tuesday.

Japan Tobacco (2914.T) holds 65 percent of the Japanese market.

(Reporting by Yuko Yoshikawa)