New Corona Japanese who are in poverty are also left behind from support... June 19, 7:53

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The effects of the new coronavirus cast a dark shadow on Japanese living abroad. A questionnaire survey revealed that some people are not able to receive support from the local government and are in need of daily living.

According to a survey by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is estimated that there are approximately 1.39 million Japanese living overseas, but it is not known in detail how such people are affected by the new coronavirus.

Against this backdrop, ``Rocottavi'', which provides guide work by connecting Japanese living abroad and those who want to visit the land, conducted a questionnaire survey on the new coronavirus in the beginning of this month, targeting over 44,000 registered people, There were 2155 responses from 94 countries and regions.

As a result, about 19% of the total respondents said that the impact on income decreased by 50% or more, or 24% of the total, 519, and 11.6% of the respondents said that it decreased by 250%, less than 20%. It was found that 13.5% of the respondents were 292, and that the total income was 49.1%, which is about half of all respondents.

By industry, 56% of the tourism industry, 39% of the entertainment industry, and 34% of the service industry say their income has decreased by more than 50%.

Regarding the status of receipt of compensation from the local government, more than half of all people in North America and Oceania said they received some kind of compensation, while in Asia all people said that they did not expect to receive it. As much as 69%, it became clear that there were disparities in support depending on the region.

Some people in the survey complained that they had no income and were having trouble with their meals, and that it was inevitable to receive welfare.

The company that conducted the survey said, "We found that many Japanese living overseas are worried about the harsh conditions and anxiety about staying in Japan. While infections may worsen in the future, we need help. I feel."

Niagara Falls guide is looking for a job

From the results of the questionnaire, it is clear from the survey that the Japanese who were involved in the tourism industry are particularly affected by their income.

Mana Saito has been a tourist guide for Japanese people for 26 years on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, a tourist attraction on the border of the United States and Canada. Due to the spread of the new coronavirus, the Canadian government restricted the entry of foreigners in the middle of March, and the local state also closed tourism facilities, so tourists from Japan were cut off at the end of March and income was zero. became.

Around the Niagara Falls, the sightseeing boats that go around the waterfall were closed, and the restaurants nearby were closed, so it was a quiet area. Mr. Saito, who filmed, said, "I was shocked to see that there were no tourists so far, although it was originally a place where many tourist buses stopped and there were a lot of people."

I am currently receiving 160,000 Japanese Yen "Emergency Benefits" per month from the Canadian government, but I do not know when it will be terminated and I cannot look ahead. If you continue to be out of work, you will not be able to live in the future, so you acquired the necessary state qualifications so that you can work part-time at a restaurant.

Saito said, “I've been working as if I were a vocation, but I'm desperate if I can't do the job of a guide anymore. Guides like us won't work unless Japanese customers come back, so the future is I'm most worried about not seeing it."

Poor life without the support of the local government

In Asia, the income of the new coronavirus has greatly reduced incomes, and people are struggling with their lives, and some Japanese rely on the support of others for their daily lives.

A Japanese woman in her 40s living in a tourist destination in Malaysia married a Malaysian man who is a marine sports instructor for foreign tourists 10 years ago. Although the outbreak was restricted for three months due to the spread of the new coronavirus in the field, the restrictions were eased this month, but tourists did not return and the husband's income remained extinct.

Women made cakes by using the techniques learned at the Japanese confectionery school about two years ago to sell their living expenses, and sold them to locals, but the economy of the tourist area fell and sales were 70%. It has decreased. According to the woman, the Malaysian government does not include foreign nationals in cash payment, and her husband has applied but not yet paid.

With the current cake sales alone, I couldn't feed three children, so I had to cut my savings and lived, but in May I couldn't afford to pay for food, and a small number of Muslims fled Myanmar. We asked a civic group to support the Rohingya refugees to separate rice and eggs.

The woman said, "I was happy, but I was disappointed because I had no food for refugees who did not have my own country, and I wondered why I had nothing."

Furthermore, because it is not listed in the Basic Resident Register of Japan, it is not covered by the 100,000 yen payment, so if you want to change the situation, you can consult with the Japanese Consulate-General in Japan or send an email to the Japanese Diet members to file a plight. But I haven't been able to get any specific support so far.

The woman said, "I intended to be a Japanese person who did not live in Japan, but I felt that I wasn't Japanese because the call for assistance was ignored. I feel sad and anxious."

18 yen left for savings

Due to the spread of new coronavirus infection and the start-up of business, some Japanese are at a loss because they have run out of savings.

Saburo Okimoto, who lives in the northeastern part of Thailand, used his experience working in a Japanese fertilizer sales company 12 years ago in Thailand to sell Japanese fertilizer to Vietnam for about 5 million yen in January. I just started a company.

However, in Vietnam, the spread of the new coronavirus spread stagnated the export of agricultural products, the contracts were postponed one after another, and the sales were zero.

I spent a lot of money saving money to set up the company, so I was spending less money, but on the 14th of this month, my savings have bottomed out, leaving only 5 baht and 18 yen in my account.

Mr. Okimoto is not eligible for the 100,000 yen benefit, as it is not listed in the Basic Resident Register in Japan. In addition, because I am self-employed, I have not taken out social insurance in Thailand and have not been covered by the government. My wife is now living with debts from friends and others.

My wife, Noi, said, “Because I have no money, all I can eat is cheap rice and vegetables. This is my first time and it is very tough.” Mr. Okimoto said, "I don't know how long I can continue this life because it is pitch black. I think it is a kind of abandonment. I want you to understand that there are people like this and help me." It was.