Gov't to provide support for areas hit by heavy snow

Send in the JSDF to assist with snow removal, particularly in the areas that have large populations of elderly. Money is just going to go to line someone's pockets, when many of these people need assistance NOW.

By the time the funding gets passed down, and contracts awarded, it will be summer time!

ironically if towns used their geothermal energy to pipe into homes along streets it would help keep it melted. Won't do much in case of sudden storms but overall it might be useful and better than doing nothing for 100 years.

As for the kids in the photo, it reminds me of when I was a kid making forts in the snow, with an emergency door in case of cave-ins. I hope the kids are allowed to have fun

Thought for a moment the photo showed kids snowboarding down a half-pipe.

Why don't we see the SDF out clearing snow? Why don't local prefectures organize teams to do the work?

The truth is that nobody in power much cares about areas like Fukui where the population is declining and is full of mountains......

JMA's weather station in Fukui City is 9 meters above sea level. The problem-causing snow this winter has nothing to do with mountains. The stuck train was by the coast too. Basically this is a one in twenty years phenomenon.

fwiw, the consistently snowy parts of Japan, e.g. north Nagano, and inland Niigata where all the famous ski resorts are, are designated as "gosetsu chitai" and have their snow clearing paid for by the national taxpayer. Some of the same towns are also designated as at risk from severe population decline, expressed in Japanese as "kasoka", and get sizable financial aid for that too. They even get to pinch other towns' local taxes under that ridiculous "furusato nouzei" scheme. On a per capita basis, some of these towns do very well from the national money printer. They are not forgotten. The overrepresentation of inaka in Japanese politics means that will never happen.

Abe gets most of his support from the countryside, but all their tax money and products go to Tokyo. Tokyo doesn’t give a monkeys about the countryside. Olympics, American base funding for example.

The SDF has to be more involved in protecting japan.

My understanding is jieitai has already been sent to Fukui to help. It was posted here nearly 1 week ago.

Well, the SDF may as well do something useful now that war with NK is on the back burner again.

I saw many on the highway going up there, but they should be more country centric. Rescue helicopters, not cruise missiles.

"We have to do our best" in tackling similar calamities, Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda told a press conference.

hehe love it. Am a resident of Fukui and its been an incredible experience. The SDF were brilliant working round the clock all night to help the stranded trucks and cars, some sad stories of people suffering carbon monoxide poisoning and dying. Gasoline stands are doing a 20 litre limit per customer but it looks like the worst is over as the sun is out beautifully right now. The money pledged from the government will go to pay the dedicated tractor and snow plough drivers who have done a great job keeping the main arteries in the city open, literally working around the clock for a whole week. Massive respect.  Fukui is an LDP stronghold so the funds should clear nicely and some big yakiniku parties to follow when its finally over. There will be cynics , but it will be well deserved. 

You have to think on your feet as roads get stopped for miles on end when one car or truck gets trapped. The Japanese people aren't afraid of waiting in line so they all just sit it out. Have been winding my window  down when things stop getting the attention of passers by asking for information and avoiding the major jams.  The side street and outskirt road options ( better than not moving I reckon )  are a risk though as the snow often hasn't been cleared and you easily get bogged in the mixture of hard ice, snow and sludge. Have to say,  everyone has been getting out of their cars to push and help ( even pushed a few  trucks free! ), high fiving and shaking hands when you get a result. Great way to realize a bit of community spirit. Will never forget this in my life. Proud to be from Fukui! If people would keep talking to each other the way they do in a disaster Japan would realise its true potential, but that maybe wishful thinking. Nice to see its there though, just bubbling under the surface.

@kohakuebisu

So these towns in the middle of nowhere do so well that their young people leave as soon as they are able for the big cities.

That is doing well?

@Ricky K. Thanks for your post.

Abe gets most of his support from the countryside, but all their tax money and products go to Tokyo. Tokyo doesn’t give a monkeys about the countryside

Is this really the case? I really doubt that the countryside subsidises the city, and often benefits from excessive public works activities.

The products do go to the city - hardly unsurprising that farming areas sell their produce to the city.

It nice to see that the schools have not closed, unlike the UK 2cm and most of the uk comes to grinding halt, a large bulk of the school close as the teachers can't get the 4x4 cars off the drive, haha, in Fakui there nearly a meter and the children STILL go to school,