Tokyo (AsiaNews) – The rising cost of living is seriously taxing many low-income families in Japan, forcing them to reduce the amount of food they give their children and limit the use of air conditioning during the hottest months, this according to a survey by Kidsdoor, a nonprofit that supports families experiencing financial hardship.
The survey – conducted between 1 June and 8 June among 1,449 families enrolled in the association's assistance programmes – reveals a particularly worrying picture.
Among the households most affected by rising prices, more than 90 per cent belong to single-parent families.
Among families with children in elementary or middle school, 64 per cent expect to reduce meal portions during the summer, when school cafeteria services close.
About 61 per cent believe they will be unable to buy food like meat and fish on more days, while 44 per cent fear their children will not be able to eat regularly three meals a day.
Food insecurity, however, was a reality before the start of school holidays. Some 57 per cent of parents said that, due to economic hardship, their children had already experienced days when they were unable to eat enough.
For nearly one in five families, this situation occurs almost daily. The worst conditions are for households with an annual income of less than one million yen (about US$ $6,154).
In this group, 31 per cent say their children are unable to eat adequately almost every day, and more than 30 per cent report that their children are thinner or shorter than their peers.
The consequences aren't limited to physical growth. Parents also report health problems such as irritability, fatigue, frequent illnesses, anaemia, and a general deterioration in physical condition.
To keep costs down, many families are even doing without air conditioning at home despite the high summer temperatures.
Some 38 per cent of respondents plan to severely limit its use, even when necessary, while 6 per cent say they will only use it in exceptional circumstances.
The economic pressure also impacts parents' psychological well-being: 44 per cent say they often feel deeply depressed when thinking about summer vacation, and approximately half have no one to share their worries with.
For this reason, Kidsdoor is calling on the government to provide targeted interventions, including financial assistance, food support, and access to air-conditioned public spaces during school closures.
