Japan's blanket cash handouts to help individuals weather the economic fallout of the coronavirus outbreak have drawn a barrage of criticism from the public, with the ruling party accused of sending mixed messages and some of those in urgent need of the money expressing frustration at the application process.
The government launched the ¥100,000 ($940) universal handout plan after an earlier proposal by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party targeting those most in need was dropped following criticism that it excluded too many. But the nearly ¥13 trillion relief package finally agreed on is still raising ire.
Originally, the ruling party planned to deliver ¥300,000 to households whose income had fallen sharply as part of an emergency policy package approved by the Cabinet on April 7.