Silver Cups for Centenarians in Japan Now Silver-Plated

Now, here's a saddening news for senior citizens in Japan pushing 100. They will have to give up that much-talked- about pure-silver sake cup they are entitled to when they become centenarians. Well, they are awarded "silver" cups alright but not 100% silver but silver-plated.

The Ministry of Welfare explains the reason why. Centenarians have doubled in number in the past half century, they point out, and the country has its finance to consider, they confide. The ministry will confer with local governments before finalizing the decision.

Starting in 1963, the year the Welfare Act for the Elderly was enacted, the government began awarding centenarians silver cups in the name of the prime minister through local governments. 153 were eligible in the first year and this fiscal year the total number of 100-year-olds runs up to estimated 32,400. Each 9-cm pure silver cup costs approximately 7600 JPY (62 USD)  and it costs 700 million JPY in all. So, it makes sense to give up pure and turn plated.

That makes sense, indeed, when you think of Japan aging so fast. According to an administrative project review compiled by external experts, lots of critical voices were heard against the pure silver cup award in a country with centenarians numbering over 30,000.

The Welfare Ministry is debating the overall cost of the cup and the kind of alloy to be silver-plated on. It is suggested that the cost be somewhere around 3800 JPY and alloy a mixture of copper, zinc and nickel. The ministry will ask for approximately 150 million JPY for the occasion.

An 81-years-old lady comments, "I wouldn't want it. I would rather have the government  spend that money for those who support society". 
A pawn shop owner Yujiro Kimura confided, "Not so many but there were a few elders' survivors who traded in pure-silver cups. But if plated, we cannot handle." 

News Source: Yomiuri Shimbun