Online crowdfunding is proving a popular way for people in Japan to support small and midsize businesses struggling to stay afloat during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Donations, which began to increase from March, doubled in May from the previous month, according to a study by a major Japanese crowdfunding website. Amounts continue to remain high, with a total of ¥27.4 billion ($258 million) raised between January to July.
Rinko Yamada, a dairy farmer in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is just one of many who have used crowdfunding to help their business survive since the pandemic hit.