The Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to maintain the minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living. Thus to help those struggling to make ends meet, the government provides financial aid according to poverty level while encouraging them to get back on their feet.
Recent government data showed that as of March, more than 2.02 million people were receiving welfare, coming close to the record 2.04 million in 1952. The number of households on welfare hit an all-time high of 1.46 million.
Another report by the welfare ministry showed that as of April more people in the quake-hit Tohoku region have applied and are now on welfare.
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