Murakami Seniors Petition Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for Pension Boosts

Senior citizens in Murakami, Niigata Prefecture, are experiencing severe financial hardship as inflation outpaces pension payments. Residents report that the rising cost of essentials, specifically kerosene driven by the war in Iran, is consuming significant portions of their monthly budgets.

In response to these conditions, the community passed a petition in December urging Sanae Takaichi to increase pensions in line with inflation to revitalize local towns. The petition highlights a growing gap between fixed incomes and the cost of living for the elderly.

Government data from 2024 supports these claims, indicating that Japanese citizens aged 65 to 74 living alone spent an average of 21% more than their monthly disposable income of ¥142,000.