JAPAN / Society

Hidden poverty growing under Abe, particularly among young and single mothers

Homeless Toyoji Yoshizawa sells copies of the Big Issue Japan magazine on a Tokyo street in January 2015. Experts say income disparity has widened under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, leaving a larger portion of the population, especially the young, below the poverty line. | BLOOMBERG

By Tomohiro Osaki
Staff Writer

Apr 26, 2016

As the government tells it, Japanese have it pretty good.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is adamant that, whatever critics may say, economic disparity is not growing.

And as for those who allege the existence of a massive, hidden poor: "There is no way Japan is in poverty. ... By global standards, we're definitely one of the wealthiest," Abe told a Diet committee session in January.

Hidden poverty growing under Abe, particularly among young and single mothers

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