Abe says studies conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD ) point to rising poverty in Japan before the global economic crises in 2008. But the Japanese government and public refused to acknowledge it until then - in part, because of the stigma associated with poverty.

"It was, what should I say, very unpopular for Japanese media to say anything about Japanese poverty," said Abe. "Even though OECD announced it and OECD Japan announced it in Japanese, it didn't make it into the articles."

Abe says new Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has taken one important step to help alleviate the problem. Next year, his Democratic Party of Japan plans to double monthly child care allowances given to families.

But Abe wants the government to expand its financial help even more.

She wants it to simplify the process to apply for public assistance and provide educational grants for students struggling to pay for tuition at high schools and colleges. The country now only offers loans.

Abe says the government must act quickly because she says the problem will only get worse, in the next few years.