On Oct. 4, the Cabinet Office announced additional support for children of households suffering from economic hardship in Okinawa Prefecture. This is the third time for such financial support to be provided during the current fiscal year. A total of 23 million yen will be provided to nine municipalities, including the cities of Uruma and Miyakojima. The total amount provided by the Cabinet Office during this fiscal year will reach 961 million yen. Specifically, places that support children’s basic needs such as meals will be set up at community centers, and support personnel will be dispatched to municipal offices and boards of education.

Child poverty measures have become an issue in Okinawa since a survey by the Nippon Foundation showed that Okinawa will sustain the greatest economic loss in the future due to child poverty among the 47 prefectures.