Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it has been disabled. Please check the website policy for more information.

Author: TARO SAITO/full-time writer

On December 1, a warehouse near Tokyo was filled with cardboard boxes containing unused "Abenomask" masks. (Ebara Kotaro)

At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the tens of millions of cloth masks purchased by the Abe government for every household across the country were left idle in a huge warehouse near Tokyo. A huge waste of money.

Storage costs for this fiscal year alone are expected to exceed 300 million yen ($2.7 million), triggering further criticism of the much-ridiculed "Abenomask" plan.

According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, more than 80 million masks were stuffed into about 100,000 cardboard boxes at the scene.

Shinzo Abe, who became prime minister in April 2020, announced that the government will provide two cloth masks for every household in Japan to help alleviate the shortage caused by the shortage of masks.

It turns out that these packages are very unpopular. Many people complain that masks are too small, discolored, arrive too late, or are actually useless as a long-term solution to the problem at hand.

The government has purchased nearly 290 million cloth masks, including Abeno masks and masks used in nursing homes.

The cost of purchasing and mailing cloth masks is close to 50 billion yen.

Last month, the Japanese Audit Committee stated that as of the end of March, nearly 30% of the masks purchased by the government — 82.72 million face masks — were stored in warehouses.

The ministry allowed a small team from the Asahi Shimbun to enter the cavernous warehouse near Tokyo, provided that the location of the site is not public. Since April, leading logistics company Nippon Express Co. has provided storage space.

According to the ministry, as of the end of October, there were 81.3 million cloth masks in the warehouse, which means that the ministry can only unload 1.42 million masks since April.

A ministry official stated that each carton contains 200 to 2,000 masks, adding that at least 300 trucks are required to transport these 100,000 cartons, each with a capacity of 10 tons.

The boxes are stacked on iron racks. Those at the top of the stack are nearly four meters from the floor. The shelf occupies more than half of the space, covering an area of ​​about 10,000 square meters. The box is tightly packed, and each mask is wrapped in a transparent plastic bag.

The Audit Committee pointed out in its fiscal year 2020 audit report submitted to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last month that so far, the government has spent nearly 600 million yen to store masks.

If no significant progress is made quickly in removing the remaining cover, the storage cost for this fiscal year is expected to exceed 300 million yen.

The committee called on the government to reduce these costs by selling or giving away unused masks. 

The ministry said it is studying how to distribute masks to people who need masks or use them as medical gauze, but there is no detailed plan yet.

Millions of "Abeno masks" worth 11 billion yen have not been used

30% of funds used for COVID-19 are carried forward to the new fiscal year

Editorial: Too much money was wasted on poorly considered antivirus steps

The contaminated Fukushima soil was stored in a flooded area, and the audit found

40% of airport backup power sources may be destroyed in a major earthquake

The Ministry of Finance increases the income of gold that has no obvious purpose

The Chinese character in 2021 is "kin", which is the gold medal choice for the Olympic year

Masako is 58 years old, expressing her hope for the happiness of her beloved son

Fennec Fox, the smallest fox in the world, curious but timid by nature

Visit this page to get the latest news about Japan's fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Haruki Murakami and other writers read books in front of selected audiences at Haruki New Murakami Library.

The "Asahi Shimbun" aims to "realize gender equality and empower all women and girls" through its gender equality declaration.

Let's explore the Japanese capital from the perspective of wheelchair users and the disabled with Barry Joshua Grisdale.

Copyright © Asahi Shimbun. all rights reserved. Copying or reprinting without written permission is prohibited.