Local governments in Niigata and Fukui prefectures started accepting applications on January 16. Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures plan to do the same soon.
Measure aimed at covering living costs
The measure is designed to help cover people's immediate living expenses.
In principle, the maximum amount is 100,000 yen, and the repayment period is a maximum of two years.
But the loan has been expanded to a maximum of 200,000 yen for households with four members or more; households in which a person died as a result of the disaster; and households with a person in need of nursing care.