The average amount Tokyo children received for New Year's dropped by 203 yen to 27,365 yen this year, a possible reflection of the sluggish economy and the first decline in six years, according to a survey released Friday by Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank.Still, the amount was more than 28 times the children's average monthly allowance of 967 yen, according to the survey. As per Japanese custom, children receive "otoshidama" gifts of cash from relatives and other adults during the New Year's holiday season.The annual DKB poll, conducted this year Jan. 5-6, covered 504 randomly selected Tokyo children ranging from the fourth to sixth grade. Children on average received 3,915 yen from each of seven adults, the results showed. Like preceding years, relatives outside the children's nuclear family and grandparents were the primary givers of otoshidama, followed by grandmothers, fathers and grandfathers.About 60 percent of the respondents said they would buy toys with the money. Nearly 80 percent had plans to save some of the cash, citing an average 20,654 yen to be deposited at financial institutions, according to the survey.
