Sanseitō party leader Sohei Kamiya recently made a post on X (formerly Twitter) suggesting that child-rearing support could be provided without funding by using “digital coupons.” This proposal left voters confused about the feasibility of such a plan. Tokyo Shimbun checked with the Children and Families Agency, which confirmed that funding is indeed necessary for such initiatives.
Proposed 10,000 Yen Monthly Child Support
Sanseitō has pledged to provide every child aged 0-15 with a monthly payment of 10,000 yen. With about 14.9 million children under 15 as of October 1, 2024, this would require a budget of around 17.88 trillion yen annually. On October 15, Kamiya posted about using digital coupons, similar to Suica points, for these payments. He indicated that converting to digital points could avoid the issues of reallocating existing budget funds. This post sparked online reactions, with many questioning how digital or point-based support would eliminate the need for funding.
Existing Digital Coupon Initiatives
The Children and Families Agency already supports initiatives using coupons, such as those for purchasing baby supplies. These schemes are worth up to 10,000 yen for expecting mothers, and local governments decide how to implement them, sometimes opting for digital coupons or regional digital currencies. However, for businesses accepting these coupons to not incur losses, they must convert them back into currency, necessitating government funding.
The agency’s budget for this initiative in fiscal year 2025 includes the 10,000 yen principle amount, alongside approximately 84 billion yen for operational costs, including hiring companies for coupon distribution. A spokesperson for the agency clearly stated that costs are involved with digital coupons, and funding sources are required, including the principle payout itself.
by MagazineKey4532