TOKYO — Yasuo Sugiuchi can’t avoid death, but he knew that — if he hurried — he would be able to escape taxes.

The 52-year-old owner of a home repair business rushed to buy a new familial cemetery plot to beat a tax increase that could have a profound impact on the country’s spenders. Japan increased its tax on a wide variety of consumer goods and services, from toilet paper and tampons to computers and kimonos.

Graves cost about $28,000 to $37,000 , so the increase in the consumption tax to 10 percent from 8 percent could have a significant impact on the price. Mr. Sugiuchi said he was pleased with his purchases, which included a tombstone engraved with “thank you for coming to see me” at the request of his mother and his wife.

With the money he saved, “our family could take a little trip nearby or go to a fancy restaurant,” he said.