The Looming Problem Of Poverty In Japan
Today’s New York Times outlines the unknown prevalence of poverty in the Japanese islands, especially the more rural areas. Japan’s is known for being uncommonly homogeneous, and it may come as no surprise that families that fall below the official poverty line have been extremely reticent about revealing their economic status to others.
“Saying we’re poor would draw attention, so I’d rather hide it,” said Ms. Sato, who lives in a blocklike public housing project in this small city surrounded by flat, treeless farmland reminiscent of the American Midwest.
Since Yukio Hatoyama took office as Japan’s Prime Minister, the first Democratic one the country has had in decades, he has uncovered previously unpublicized information, such as statistics describing the degree of destitution among the population.
To read the full article, go here.
