Takako Sugiyama isn¡¯t sure how old her two grandchildren¡¯s school is. She knows this: the building, in the city of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, was dated when her three kids ¡ª now in their 50s ¡ª attended.
This year, things will finally change. With Toyota Motor Corp. set to earn more money than all other Japanese carmakers combined, the company¡¯s hometown is seeing a surge in tax revenue. The school will be torn down and replaced with an earthquake-resistant building, putting Sugiyama¡¯s mind at ease.
¡°I¡¯ve been worried the current building is a bit too dangerous,¡± Sugiyama, 71, said while walking by with her granddaughter. ¡°The economy around this area has been improving as Toyota¡¯s business has gotten better.¡±
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