"The number receiving welfare began rising in December 2008, as the job situation deteriorated. In the 17 months since then, the monthly increase has exceeded 5,000 households.The rise means more than 1.87 million people were on welfare in April, up nearly 8,200 from a month earlier."
Source: Record 1.35 mil families live on welfare in Japan
2010/08/12
NHK World
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_23.html
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