In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the municipal governments of cities, towns and villages have launched their own support measures for their communities, ranging from the distribution of merchandise coupons to all households to a subsidy for a local union of geigi, or traditional female entertainers at banquets, better known as geisha.
While it takes time for financial support from the central and prefectural governments to be distributed widely among the people and business operators, these swift responses by municipal governments have become a big help to local residents.
In the village of Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, with a population of about 1,100, staff members of the village government lined up desks at a local heliport Wednesday afternoon, handing out merchandise coupons to village residents who showed up. The heliport was one of 30 outdoor locations where the village office distributed the coupons, as a measure against the so-called three Cs: closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places with many people nearby, and close-contact settings.
A goods voucher worth 10,000 yen is to be given to each villager, while a household with a child of high school age or younger is eligible to receive an additional 10,000 yen. The vouchers can be used at about 40 places, including stores and gas stations in the village.
Makoto Yuzawa, a 39-year-old employee of an association who received the coupons, has a family of four, including his wife and two daughters. As his eldest daughter's elementary school has been closed, food expenses have increased. Yuzawa, who is also concerned about a possible drop in income, said: "We're really grateful. I will use them for buying food, gas and various other things."
The village office decided to issue the vouchers just before the state of emergency was extended to cover the whole country. While the central government aims to start giving a uniform allowance of 100,000 yen to each person within May, an official of the village office said, "Simply because we are a small village, we have been able to decide [on the coupons] and distribute them quickly." The needed funds will be eked out of budgets originally allotted for special events, which have been canceled, according to the village office.
In Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, a city known for hot spring facilities, the city government has begun its support for a local union of geigi, as "figures to showcase" Atami. The city government granted a subsidy totaling about 5 million yen to Atami Geigi Okiya Union, a local union of geigi. The money is for union membership fees that the about 80 member geisha normally pay, and for their monthly lesson fees for keeping up their skills in dancing and musical performance, tea ceremony and flower arrangement.
In the city, banquets in the spring, the busy season for geisha, have been canceled one after another, and the city's yearly Atami Odori dancing event to usher in the Golden Week holidays has also been canceled. As a result, these female entertainers had little income and have been unable to practice their performing arts. Chizuko Nishikawa, the union president, said: "Everyone is delighted. With this subsidy, we would like to preserve our tradition."
There have also been a succession of such efforts support eating and drinking business operators who are caught in a bind. In Shichinohe, Aomori Prefecture, the town office began handing out 100,000 yen each to the town's about 100 local restaurants, izakaya pubs and lodging facilities operators. In Tenri, Nara Prefecture, the city government distributed a goods voucher worth 500 yen via its public relations bulletin. It can be used for meal expenses such as home-delivery or take-out food.
Meiji University Associate Prof. Yasuyuki Iida, who is knowledgeable about local economies, said: "It is the municipal governments of cities, towns and villages that grasp in detail the way local residents live. For those people who are in a fix financially, a quick response will be the biggest help of all."
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