'Cash for kids' is proving a bit difficult

¥26,000 child allowance plan may not be feasible

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the DPJ, wounded by scandal and falling public support, hoped to win back the public with a ¥26,000 per month child allowance. However, though the first step -- a ¥13,000 monthly payment -- is to start in the spring, Senior Vice Finance Minister Naoki Minezaki is saying the government might not be able to pony up for the ultimate ¥26,000 amount slated for 2011.

Finance Minister Naoto Kan is still dedicated to the plan, but Minezaki believes there just isn't enough tax revenue to make it happen.

Until the pols can settle this, parents in Japan should probably avoid any ¥312,000-level lifestyle improvement.

In other news

Latest Asashoryu scandal news: The Yokozuna's personal driver denies the "Shukan Shincho" report that Asashoryu commanded to take his alleged beating victim to the river to "kill him." He does admit, however, that the sumo wrestler and his acquaintance "scuffled," which makes it sound like a schoolyard fight.

Give yourself the gift of going to the gift show: SNOW reminds us to hit the The 69th Tokyo International Gift Show, held at Tokyo Big Sight. Closes on February 5.

The snow was not fun for all: While you were wistfully walking through a winter wonderland, 38 other people in Tokyo injured themselves on the slippery roads. The moral of this story: Invest in snow boots.