Elderly Woman In Japan Chooses To Live In Prison, Here's Why

Illustration of Japanese women prefers to live in prison (Freepic)

JAKARTA - In the midst of the sparkling life of modern Japan, there is a dark side that is rarely highlighted. There is also a phenomenon of loneliness that strikes elderly prison residents, especially women.

Reported by VOI from the CNN page on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, most of the inmates are the aging Japanese people. They experience such deep loneliness problems, so some elderly inmates prefer to stay in prison.

"In fact, there are people who say they are willing to pay 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month in order to stay here forever," said Takayoshi Shiranaga, an officer at the Tochigi Women's Prison, located in northern Tokyo, in an exclusive interview with CNN last September.

There is also one elderly inmate named Akiyo who is 81 years old. With short hair filled with gray hair and hands filled with speckles of age, he served his sentence for stealing food.

"There are a lot of good people in this prison. Maybe life here is the most stable for me," said Akiyo, whose name was disguised for privacy.

Prisoners in Tochigi do live behind bars and have to work in a prison factory. But for some inmates, that doesn't matter. In prison, they get regular meals, free health care, and assistance they don't get out of prison.

Akiyo is well aware of the severity of isolation and poverty. This is the second time he has been in prison, having previously served his sentence in his 60s for stealing food.

"If I lived financially stable and had a comfortable lifestyle, I certainly wouldn't do it," he said.

Ketika ia melakukan pencurian keduanya, Akiyo hanya hidup dari pensiun yang kecil, dibayar setiap dua bulan. Lalu, ia mengambil keputusan buruk untuk mencuri makanan. Hukuman sebelumnya membuatnya kembali dikesang ke penjara.

With minimal family support, Akiyo felt no longer concerned about his future. His 43-year-old son, who lived with him before he was imprisoned, often said, "I hope you just leave."

"I feel no longer care what happens. I thought, 'There's no point in me living,' and 'I just want to die'," he said.

Theft is the most common crime committed by elderly convicts, especially women. According to government data in 2022, more than 80% of elderly female inmates in Japan were jailed for stealing.

Some did it to survive, 20 percent of people over the age of 65 in Japan live in poverty. Others do it, because they feel they have nothing left outside.

"There are people who come here because they are cold, or because of hunger," said Shiranaga.

The number of elderly prisoners in Japan has almost quadrupled from 2003 to 2022. This has changed the way prisons operate.

"Now we have to change their diapers, help them take a shower, and eat. At this point, this prison feels more like a nursing home than a place for criminals," added Shiranaga.

Many ex-convicts have difficulty adapting after leaving prison. Some were abandoned by their families, while others had no place to live.

The Japanese government has stepped up efforts to provide early support and build community centers to help vulnerable elderly people. However, with the increasing elderly population, this challenge will continue to occur.

Akiyo completed his sentence last October. A month before his release, he felt full of shame and was afraid to face his son. He plans to apologize, but worries about how his son will accept his mistake.

"The concept is very difficult. I feel ashamed because I ended up in a situation like this. If I had a stronger determination, maybe I could live a different life. But now I'm too old to change anything." said Akiyo.