TOKYO, July 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of welfare applications in Japan came in at 20,601 in April, a 0.9-percent decrease compared to the same month last year, data from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed Wednesday.
This marks the first decline in four months. Some 18,199 households newly began receiving welfare support in April, a decrease of 634 households compared to the same month last year.
As of April, the total number of households receiving welfare across Japan stood at 1,643,444, a decrease of 4,409 households.
While the number of applications has decreased compared to last year, it remains high historically, the ministry noted, pledging to continue to monitor trends closely. ■
