ABSTRACT
The universal child allowance (kodomo teate) was a signature policy of the DPJ’s 2009 election manifesto, which vowed to put “children first.” The DPJ promised to reform the structure of social welfare benefits-long biased towards the elderlyand introduce bold new social security measures aimed at children. According to the 2009 manifesto “roadmap,” in its first year the DPJ government would initiate monthly payments of 13,000 yen, necessitating a budget of 2.7 trillion yen. In the second year of DPJ government, monthly payments of the full 26,000 yen allowance would require a budget of 5.5 trillion yen. This rivaled the annual budget for defense. Determined political leadership would be required to change the overall composition of the national budget in order to implement this ambitious plan.
