"All people shall have the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living."

That is what Article 25 of Japan's Constitution says.

But as the coronavirus scourge continues to wreak havoc on the economy, the burden is unduly falling on so-called nonregular workers whose employment is unstable. The government has emphasized the role of “self-reliance,” but voices are rising that those who can barely make ends meet are being left behind.