Japan's Needy Households Struggle on Less Than ¥500 a Day Amid Inflation

Needy households in Japan are struggling to make ends meet as daily food spending has plummeted below 500 yen per person amid lingering inflation, according to a recent survey by Save the Children Japan. The organization conducted its survey in June and gathered responses from 8,736 parents nationwide who applied for food assistance.

The results showed that 94.5% of respondents were single parents, with over 60% living in debt and 36.9% relying on their savings to get by. Among two-person households, daily food spending per person fell to an average of 490 yen, down from 533 yen last year. Six-member households saw their average food spending drop to 361 yen.

About 85.5% of respondents reported being unable to buy groceries for their families over the past year. The survey highlights the struggles faced by low-income households in Japan as they navigate economic uncertainty and rising costs of living.