Japan's ailing small businesses hang by a 1-month thread

Government aid efforts struggle to keep pace with coronavirus fallout

20200311N Food stall REUTERS

The coronavirus has pushed at least eight Japanese businesses into bankruptcy. © Reuters

JUNICHI SUGIHARA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japan's newly approved 1 trillion yen ($9.6 billion) bailout for companies impacted by the novel coronavirus arrives as most small businesses limp along on just a month's worth of cash.

The latest financial aid measure, announced Tuesday, will extend low- to zero-interest loans to small and midsize businesses suffering decreased sales, as well as self-employed individuals in a similar crunch.

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