Japan needs $257B just to service its debts.

 Japan's Ministry of Finance reportedly wants to allocate a record ¥25.3T ($257B) to service the country's mammoth debt of ¥1,000T ($10T) - which is double the size of its economy - for the next fiscal year. The expected provision is 13.7% higher than for this FY. The speculation comes as Japan debates whether to increase sales tax, a move seen as important for dealing with the country's debt but also as possibly hurting its nascent growth.