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The story
A thread on 5ch (News VIP) asking “Isn’t ¥100,000–130,000 in welfare benefits too little?” sparked a debate over the constitutional guarantee of a “minimum standard of wholesome and cultured living.” While some argued that “a cultured life requires at least ¥200,000,” others shared personal experience getting by on just ¥50,000 a month — splitting opinion not so much over the raw figure as over where to set the baseline for an acceptable standard of living. Posters also questioned the premise that rent must come out of that ¥100,000–130,000, and pointed out that benefit amounts differ depending on whether a recipient owns or rents their home.
What people said
Yeah, ¥200k is the bare minimum.
This isn't about the amount, it's about the standard of living.
So that 'standard' comes out to about ¥200k?
No, rent comes out of that ¥100,000–130,000.
That's messed up, right?
If that's for real, that's rough.
Right, exactly.
It doesn't add up.
That's why the prefecture or the national government should just buy dedicated low-rent apartments and house welfare recipients there.
You'd say it's 'not enough.'
What are you, a schoolteacher?
¥70k excluding housing costs ought to be plenty, no?
I'd take that seriously if it came from someone actually living on that.
Work is inhumane slavery though.
Does it still count if the kid's already an adult?
Why would you think that's fine?
You get screened out at the interview stage, seriously lol.
They judge you off the paperwork, off your résumé.
Where are you even trying to work?
That doesn't happen if you're not picky about the job.
What on earth did you do?
Only finished middle school or something?
Take-home pay of ¥200k is, for now, enough that you're not struggling to survive.
Though get seriously ill and you'd probably fall straight into needing welfare.
With ¥200k cash in hand you could travel every month.
Even ¥150k would be more than plenty.
And medical costs come out of that too.
How'd you get approved? Tell me.
Same, I want it too.
It's basically a privileged class.
Anyone can get it if they meet the requirements and apply.
If you don't know how, go to a support center.
With ¥70k you could splurge a few times a month.
Food's two home-cooked meals a day, running about 25–3K.
Meaning ¥25,000–30,000.
Welfare exists to help people like YOU.
When you think they're getting ¥150,000–180,000 every month without working at all, I think that's just too much.
You can't live on a gross ¥150,000 though……
People keep saying they're jealous that medical costs are covered, but if you're so sick you're racking up that kind of medical bill, you probably should be on welfare yourself.
Are you guys really that frail? If so, go get on welfare too.
Everyone should just work, I say.
Even at 80 you could do a convenience-store part-time job or Uber Eats deliveries.
If that's what you think, go move to Africa — plenty of countries there match what you want.
Sounds like the type who'd make their elderly parents keep working.
Background and Key Points of the Debate
Welfare payments are set according to standards established by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and vary based on the recipient’s residential “cost-of-living grade” and household composition. The rent portion is paid separately from the basic living allowance as a distinct “housing assistance” benefit, and medical costs are, in principle, fully covered with no out-of-pocket burden. Within the thread, posts that assumed “rent comes out of the ¥100,000–130,000” were mixed in with posts that accounted for the existence of housing and medical assistance, which was part of why the discussion kept talking past itself. The bar for a “cultured life” also varies widely from person to person — the gap between those citing ¥200,000 a month as a benchmark and those pointing to real examples of getting by on ¥50,000 comes down largely to differing views on what counts as a necessary expense. When comparing these benefit figures directly to take-home pay, it’s worth remembering that these institutional details are easy to overlook.
*This article is compiled from excerpts and a summary of the 5ch (News VIP) thread “Isn’t ¥100,000–130,000 in welfare benefits too little?.”
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