The number of households on welfare rose by 2,723 in October from the previous month to 1,632,321, hitting a record high for the second consecutive month, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said Wednesday. The number of welfare recipients increased by 2,435 to 2,166,019.

Source: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/01/06/national/number-households-welfare-japan-hit-record-high-october/