TOKYO, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Japan received 20,897 welfare applications nationwide in June 2025, an increase of 797 cases, or 4 percent, compared with the same month last year, according to data from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

This marks the first year-on-year rise in three months.

The number of households newly starting to receive welfare in June was 18,022, up 410, or 2.3 percent, from a year earlier.

The ministry said that authorities will continue monitoring trends closely and work to ensure swift decisions for those in need of assistance. ■