Japan spent rebuilding money on unrelated projects

The government has set aside 23 trillion yen ($295 billion) to invest in reconstruction and disaster prevention within the next ten years, 19 trillion yen ($245 billion) of it within five years. However, an audit report found that only half of the money set aside for reconstruction had actually been spent, reports Associated Press.

Parts of the funds earmarked for tsunami reconstruction work was spent on unrelated projects, such as subsidies for a contact lens factory or boosting security for Japan's controversial whale hunt, according to the newly released report.