Families receiving high school scholarships from Tokyo-based nonprofit group Ashinaga have an average disposable income of just 46% of the national average, according to survey results released Wednesday.

Ashinaga, which provides financial aid to children who have lost at least one parent due to illness, disasters or other causes, said it aims to bolster support for such families to prevent child poverty. The nonprofit's high school scholarship program provides ¥30,000 ($200) per month to those eligible.

The findings highlighted three major challenges facing parents and guardians of Ashinaga's high school scholarship recipients: economic hardship, "time poverty" and social isolation.

The survey, conducted by Ashinaga in October through online and mail responses, targeted 3,536 parents and guardians of scholarship recipients, with 2,334 responses received. Roughly 82% of respondents were single mothers in their 40s or 50s.

The average disposable income of surveyed households was ¥1.878 million ($12,500) — 46.3% of the national average of ¥4.058 million as reported by the labor ministry’s 2023 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions. Even when compared to just the national average for single-mother households (¥2.514 million), the surveyed households' income fell short by ¥636,000.

“The government needs to do more to support people like me,” said one respondent, a single mother in her 50s from Chiba Prefecture. “The struggles of single parents can only truly be understood by those who live through them. In this world of soaring prices, raising children alone feels impossible.”

Ashinaga’s analysis compared respondents' time spent on "obligatory activities" — such as work and housework — to the national average for women in the same age group, based on the NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute’s 2020 National Time Use Survey. The results showed that single parents surveyed spend more than three additional hours per day on these responsibilities.

Ashinaga attributed this disparity to economic hardship, which forces guardians to work longer hours while juggling domestic duties, exacerbating what's referred to as time poverty. In turn, this lack of free time fuels social isolation, creating a vicious cycle.

The survey found that 20.5% of respondents had no one to consult about their daily struggles, more than double the national average of 8.7%, as reported in the Cabinet Office’s 2023 Survey on Social Connections.

“I wish there were a place where I could just let it all out,” said a mother in her 50s from Gunma Prefecture. “But to survive this situation, I have to be strong. There’s no time for despair or fear. I have to raise my children alone, no matter what.”

Many single parents are trapped in unstable, nonregular jobs that offer hourly wages rather than fixed salaries and lack employment benefits. Seeking help from counselors, government offices or nonprofits directly translates to lost working hours, leading to a reduction in income.

Nearly half of the parents and guardians surveyed reported having health issues, suggesting that a significant number may be unable to work due to medical conditions.

In 2024, applications for Ashinaga's high school scholarship hit a record 3,487, but the organization could only support 1,949 students, leaving 1,538 applicants without aid, as demand outpaced available funds. Following media coverage of the funding gap, an influx of donations allowed Ashinaga to increase its 2025 adoption quota by 500 students.

Still, many children remain without financial assistance. For the 2025 process, which covers students entering high school in April 2025, 688 applicants — 40% of all candidates — were left without aid.

“It is difficult to say that Japan's child poverty measures adequately address the broader challenges faced by families, such as employment and financial stability,” Ashinaga said in a press release.

“We will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that the issues faced by parents revealed in this survey do not hinder the future of their children,” said Hokuto Shimada, a spokesperson for the nonprofit.