As schools close for the summer holidays in Japan, a worrying trend emerges: families struggling to provide meals usually supplied by school lunches. Without the guaranteed daily meal from the school, low-income households face increased financial stress and children are particularly affected. Despite Japan's widespread prosperity, this issue underlines the hidden pockets of poverty and economic inequality that persist in the country.

In Japan, the issue of child poverty is often overlooked, given the country's reputation for affluence. The discontinuation of school meals during the summer vacation period brings this silent issue to the forefront. It's seen as a social problem that the government and other organizations should address, but it also involves a degree of cultural shame associated with poverty, making many hesitant to seek assistance.

Similar issues arise in countries like the US, where summer meal programs aim to mitigate the impacts of school vacation on low-income families. However, in many European countries, mechanisms such as year-round welfare benefits and free meal vouchers have been implemented to assist struggling families even during school holidays.