Regarding the Dec. 7 Kyodo article "Welfare recipients reach nearly 2.06 million": Rarely have I seen any mention by Japan's broadcast or print media of Japan's national debt clock.
Total debt is up to ¥957,555,379,732,093, which breaks down to ¥7,517,313 per citizen. If you convert this into dollars based on ¥150 per dollar, instead of ¥77 — you are still looking at a $6 trillion-plus debt or $48,000 per citizen. That is exactly where the United States is now, and the U.S. is seeing job losses left and right to China.
It is just my opinion, but I think The Japan Times should run more articles about Japan's debt clock and alert the people of Japan about how dire the situation really is. If Japan doesn't get rid of some of its debt, Japan, like the U.S., runs the risk of following in Greece's footsteps. Wake up the Japanese people, please.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.