TOKYO -- A third or about 11.5 billion yen ($101 million) worth of cloth masks the Japanese government planned to distribute to the public remained in storage as of March, Nikkei learned Tuesday, raising questions over the effectiveness of Tokyo's initial response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Coronavirus
Japan's $100m question: Where are all the 'Abenomasks?'
Audit finds third of supply unused for months, raising efficiency questions
The masks that the government began distributing to households and care facilities last year were dubbed "Abenomasks" -- a play on Abenomics, the signature economic policy of then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
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