In the Japanese short film "The Beauty Tax", a new law is enacted where beautiful women must pay a tax based on their level of attractiveness. Aiko, a beautiful woman who has always received special treatment, is initially unhappy with the tax but soon comes to see it as a privilege. However, when a new coworker, Riko, who is even more beautiful, arrives, Aiko becomes jealous and tries to outdo her by undergoing extreme beauty treatments. But when Riko undergoes plastic surgery to become less attractive and Aiko is fired from her job due to the high taxes, she realizes the absurdity of the system.
Desperate to avoid paying taxes on her inheritance, Aiko tries to make herself look ugly, with the help of a man named Nono Mura, who turns out to be a con artist trying to get her inheritance. Aiko is arrested and sentenced to two years in prison, where she meets a cellmate who advises her to focus on inner beauty. After her release, Aiko tries to live a life focused on inner beauty, but is shocked to find that the standard of beauty has changed, and ugly women are now considered more attractive.
Here are the key facts from the text:
1. A Japanese short film is about a concept called the "beauty tax".
2. The movie begins in a Japanese office where a manager yells at employees for not being good enough at their jobs.
3. A beautiful woman named Aiko is favored by the manager and gets special treatment.
4. The Prime Minister announces a new law that requires attractive women to pay a "beauty tax".
5. The tax is based on the level of attractiveness, with more beautiful women paying more.
6. Aiko is told she has to pay 20% beauty tax.
7. At first, Aiko is upset about the tax, but later becomes proud to pay it as a sign of her beauty.
8. Aiko's popularity increases, and she starts to enjoy the benefits of being considered beautiful.
9. A woman named Riko, who pays 25% beauty tax, arrives at Aiko's office and becomes the center of attention.
10. Aiko becomes jealous and tries to become prettier to surpass Riko.
11. Aiko goes to a restaurant and scans herself, finding out she now has to pay 30% tax.
12. Aiko's happiness is short-lived as she realizes she has no money left.
13. Riko reveals she had plastic surgery to become less attractive as her fiancé left her due to being too expensive.
14. Aiko is fired from her job as the company has to pay more taxes for beautiful employees.
15. Aiko decides to make herself look ugly to avoid paying taxes.
16. Aiko meets a man named Nono who suggests she make herself look ugly to avoid taxes.
17. Aiko is arrested for trying to be ugly to avoid paying taxes.
18. Nono is revealed to be a notorious marriage swindler who targets beautiful women's inheritances.
19. Aiko is sentenced to two years in prison.
20. Aiko's cellmate advises her to focus on beautifying her heart rather than her physical appearance.
21. Aiko is released from prison two years later and tries to work on her heart.
22. The standard of beauty has changed, and men now favor ugly women due to the beauty tax.