Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda bows to the Japanese national flag at the end of a news conference at his official residence in Tokyo March 30, 2012. Japan's government on Friday submitted laws to double its sales tax by 2015 to fund swelling social security costs in the world's fastest-ageing nation, setting up a showdown that could split the ruling party, force early elections and deepen policy paralysis. Noda has staked his political career on the tax hike plan, but the chance of success looks slim as opposition parties in a divided parliament baulk at cooperating with the government. REUTERS/Issei Kato (JAPAN - Tags: POLITICS BUSINESS)