Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed on Monday that Tokyo is sticking with plans to raise the sales tax next year.

Abe tells the parliament that the sales tax hike will take place as planned unless a situation comparable to the Lehman shock or a major natural disaster occurs. But economists are betting Abe would delay the rise as weak consumption, wage growth limp and a strong yen clouding Japan's growth.

They expect the Kyushu quakes could give Abe an added reason to delay the increase in the levy. Abe is expected to announce a decision on the tax hike at the Group of Seven summit in May.