'Children's cafeterias' combat poverty, neglect in Japan

These articles SHOULD be in Japanese and SHOULD be in the major newspapers for all Japanese throughout the country to read.

On one hand we have an article here about Abe pledging billions in aid to refugees, but NOTHING about how much he SHOULD be spending on taking care of the future of Japan.

No country as wealthy as Japan is should have children go hungry! There really is no excuse.

This is a good idea. Having eaten lunch at school with junior high students, I'd bet many of them weren't getting an evening meal, judging by the way many of them ate.

Single mothers, who make on average 150,000 yen a month, get limited support from welfare programs.

Why just single mother? Don't single fathers under similar circumstances also get support from these welfare programs?

Why just single mother? Don't single fathers under similar circumstances also get support from these welfare programs?

If they qualify and file the appropriate paperwork, yes they can receive support. It's just the overwhelming majority of single parent families here are single women.

Great initiative, more of this. well said Yubaru.

Why are there so many single women that are parents?

Why are there so many single women that are parents

Because by tradition when a couple divorces the mother typically speaking takes custody of the children.

Joint custody is unheard of in Japan, as the family courts here take the view that keeping the child in contact with the separated parent will cause more trouble than good.

The volunteers can't throw some money to pay for the kids?

watched about this in one of those rare documentaries on TRUE reality in Japan (if they had more of these I would definitely watch some more japanese tv), it's an initiative that solves countless of problems at the same time. From the children to the ojiichans and obaachans, everybody seemed very happy!

Thunderbird... then you should watch more tv, there are a lot of these kind of documentaries and programs. Only that you should stop looking for those during the doramas and morning cartoon hours...

Some time slots for you... on Satrurdays and Sundays, around 10 a.m. to 13 hours. On Weekdays, maybe in the same time slot I mentioned, but also from 22 hours to 1 a.m. Yes, there are time to time even some good documentaries on the news programing too.

These articles SHOULD be in Japanese and SHOULD be in the major newspapers for all Japanese throughout the country to read.

I take it you do not watch NHK news or read the Asahi Shinbun. NHK has taken up these cafeterias on a number of occasions. The Asahi Shinbun has had 81 articles on this subject in the last 12 months.

Why just single mother? Don't single fathers under similar circumstances also get support from these welfare programs?

They didn't until 2010 when there was a substantial revision in the provision of aid to single parent families.

Why are there so many single women that are parents?

Primarily divorce.

Because by tradition when a couple divorces the mother typically speaking takes custody of the children.

The "tradition" dates from the 1980s or so. Prior to that courts tended to award custody to fathers.

Poverty in Japan is largely hidden, as it can lead to public shame and discrimination.

what doesn't?

This is truly a shameful story about Japan. I applaud those that do this. Everybody wins.

Poverty in Japan is largely hidden, as it can lead to public shame and discrimination.

what doesn't?

Good point

Poverty in Japan is largely hidden, as it can lead to public shame and discrimination.

Is that different from other countries?