Why Saitama’s Welfare Benefits Spark Anger: Foreign Residents and Japan’s Safety Net

A post about welfare payments in Saitama City recently went viral on X, receiving thousands of shares and sparking heated debate. The headline bluntly claimed, "This is why foreigners come to Saitama," and the comments were full of outrage. Many users described the system as "ridiculous" and accused it of giving unfair privileges to foreigners. So what does the image actually show?

The image laid out examples of welfare support in Saitama, including winter allowances, housing aid, and school expenses:

Payment examples:

- Single, age 40: about ¥124,680 per month

- Couple in their 30s with two elementary school kids: about ¥280,740 per month

- A 40-year-old mother with serious illness, plus two elementary schoolers and one middle schooler: about ¥332,750 per month

Extra subsidies include:

- Medical aid (doctor visits, hospital supplies, glasses, transport)

- Education aid (school lunch fees, field trips)

- Nursing aid (care services)

- Childbirth aid (delivery costs, baby supplies, milk)

- Work aid (skills training, tools, high school tuition, commuting costs)

- Funeral aid (death certificates, transport, cremation)

Free items covered:

- Taxes, pensions, daycare, after-school clubs, water and sewage fees, bulky trash, municipal cemeteries, resident records, home bathing visits, NHK fees

- JR commuter passes at 70% off

- A small year-end bonus allowance

Japan's welfare system is designed as a safety net for citizens, but permanent residents and some foreigners can also apply if they meet the criteria. These benefits are not unique to Saitama, but because it is part of the Tokyo metro area, the payouts are higher. With reimbursement of medical and education costs, the actual living burden is relatively light.

The post quickly blew up, pulling in over 8,000 likes and 3,000 shares. Reactions from Japanese netizens fell into several camps:

1. Anger and frustration:

- “Japanese taxpayers are footing the bill for foreigners? Outrageous!” “Hardworking citizens are being made fools of.”

- “Pensions are lower than this. Why should foreigners get it too?”

- “Who is the governor of Saitama working for? Time for a recall!”

2. Calls to restrict foreign access:

- “Stop welfare for foreigners immediately! If you can’t afford Japan, go home.”

- “Reform the system to prioritize Japanese citizens, or social costs will never go down.”

3. More balanced takes:

- “It’s basically the same nationwide. That ‘bonus’ is just a small allowance for heating oil and New Year’s rice cakes.”

- “In expensive areas, payments are naturally higher. It’s not a cushy lifestyle.”

4. Worries about social impact:

- “Foreigners are being prioritized too much. Crime and accidents are rising.”

- “Japanese citizens who really need help struggle to apply, while foreigners have support groups guiding them to full benefits.”

While the viral image exaggerated the benefits nationwide as "Saitama-only perks", it caused growing outrage. As more foreigners settle in places like Kawaguchi, concerns about safety and fairness are increasing. Welfare was intended to guarantee a "healthy and culturally appropriate minimum standard of living", but with Japan's growing population and financial stress, foreign entitlements have become a flashpoint.