FOCUS: Crowdfunding proves popular as way to help businesses hit by virus

Online crowdfunding is proving a popular way for people in Japan to support small and mid-size businesses struggling to stay afloat during the novel coronavirus pandemic.Donations, which began to increase from March, doubled in May from the previous month, according to a study by a major Japanese crowdfunding website. Amounts continue to remain high, with a total of 27.4 billion yen ($258 million) raised between January to July.Rinko Yamada, a dairy farmer in Koka, Shiga Prefecture, is just one of many who have used crowdfunding to help their business survive since the pandemic hit.Cut off …READ FULL ARTICLE