Japan Press Weekly

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2009 January 21 - 27 [TOKYO]

Tokyo Metropolitan Government budget plan reflects some of JCP requests

The final plan of the FY 2009 budget of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government reflects some of the proposals made by the Japanese Communist Party for an increase in the funding for various pressing needs of the public.

The metropolitan government on January 23 finalized its 6.59 trillion yen budget plan, which added some more money to the funding for the creation of more nursing-care workers, the fight against cancer efforts, financial assistance to Tokyo’s municipalities in Tokyo, support to retailers, and subsidies to private schools.

One billion yen will be allotted to local programs for retailers to attract more customers. The Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Private Schools will receive additional funds for its educational lender.

Yet, Governor Ishihara Shintaro is intent on pushing ahead with large development projects using the 2016 Olympic Games as the pretext, leaving measures for employment, small- and medium-sized businesses, welfare, medical services, and education under-funded. Conservative estimates show that the construction of Olympic Games facilities and related infrastructure will cost more than 1.3 trillion yen.