In Japan, aged individuals started to try to jail due to fixed loneliness. Some are even able to pay to remain behind bars. CNN correspondents visited Totigi ladies’s jail, situated north of Tokyo, and discovered that each fifth prisoner there was a pensioner. In response to jail workers, the place of detention of criminals of their case is increasingly paying homage to the nursing residence. “Lenta.ru” tried to search out the reply to the query of what forces the aged Japanese to refuse freedom and, of their very own free will, stay within the jail cell lately.
What is going on in Totigi jail
Totigi is the most important ladies’s jail within the nation. Nonetheless, if you happen to overlook in regards to the barbed wire exterior, it could appear that the customer received into the nursing residence. Lots of the ladies dwelling listed below are very aged, some can hardly go and eat. Within the corridors, yow will discover prisoners with walkers and on wheelchairs. And that is an incredible illustration of the demographic scenario within the nation – the inhabitants of Japan is quickly ageing, and this impacts all social establishments.

Overage in jail Totigi
Body: CNN
The variety of prisoners over 65 over the previous 20 years has elevated 4 occasions. The commonest purpose for stepping into the entire is small thefts. Greater than 80 p.c of prisoners obtain jail sentences after theft in shops, together with in grocery. Reaching a sure age, single Japanese ladies face loneliness and poverty, which is accompanied by bodily weak spot. Not understanding who to show to for assist, they start to transgress the legislation. On the similar time, many, going to jail, discover that behind bars life is less complicated and extra nice.
There are prisoners in jail who’re able to pay 20 or 30 thousand yen (13-19 thousand rubles) to stay right here without end
After all, ladies ought to work in jail, however on the similar time they’re protected: they’ve a roof above their heads, they’re fed and supplied with medical care, which not everybody can permit themselves at massive. As well as, some prisoners are so previous and helpless that they’re merely not in a position to do any work. It’s price noting the truth that aged ladies aren’t alone in jail, they’ve an organization – they will talk with warders, nurses and different prisoners.
The story of the 81-year-old prisoner from Totiga
Akio in jail for the second time. Each deadlines – for theft: a girl stole merchandise from the shop. For the primary time, she got here throughout when she was just a little over 60 years previous. In response to the lady, she once more violated the legislation as a consequence of a tiny pension, which was additionally paid solely as soon as each two months. When lower than six thousand yen (about 4 thousand rubles) and two weeks remained earlier than the following cost, Akio, as she tells, made the incorrect choice and made a theft within the retailer, believing that this may not grow to be an issue. Nonetheless, the previous girl got here throughout, and the earlier felony report didn’t play in her favor.
If I have been financially secure and led a cushty life-style, I would not do this
Akio has no family members who may care for her. In response to her, the 43-year-old son, who lived along with her earlier than she was in jail, typically instructed her: “I would love you to easily not be.” In some unspecified time in the future, earlier than the second conclusion, Akoo felt that she didn’t care what would occur to her, that she had no sense in dwelling. Nonetheless, life in Totig gave her the specified stability and “superb individuals round.”
In October 2024, the lady was purported to be launched. In an interview, she admitted that the angle scares her, as a result of it could be troublesome to adapt to extraordinary life. Akio stated she was ashamed and scared to fulfill her son. She deliberate to apologize and ask him for forgiveness, however was afraid of his response.

Aged prisoner jail Totigi
Body: CNN
“It’s very troublesome to be lonely, and I’m ashamed that I used to be in such a scenario. I actually really feel that if I had a stronger will, I could lead on a unique life, however I’m too previous to do one thing about it now, ”she admitted to reporters.
What occurs in Totig with the warders and younger prisoners
Totig outwardly weakly resembles a jail. Some halls and rooms are painted pink. On the entrance there is just one guarded checkpoint. However he and the barbed wire on the partitions appear to be profanity: hardly one of many prisoners needs and can be capable of escape.

Overseer in Totigi Jail
Body: CNN
The overseer of Takaesi Siranaga instructed reporters that most individuals wish to go to jail to outlive. “There are individuals who try right here as a result of they’re chilly or as a result of they’re ravenous. They obtain free medical care whereas they’re in jail, however after the discharge they must pay for it themselves, so some individuals wish to stay right here so long as attainable, ”he defined.
Now we should change their diapers, assist swim, eat. Now it’s extra like a nursing residence than a jail filled with convicted criminals
In response to the overseer Satomi Kezuka, she has to take care of prisoners that suffer from incontinence. “They’re shy and conceal underwear,” she says. “I inform them: carry right here, I’m washed.” Not everyone seems to be sufficient endurance, so in ladies’s prisons a robust turnover: many give up with out working for 3 years.
Not solely the warders flip into seats. The worker of the jail Megumi doesn’t disguise that the workers is actively asking prisoners who’ve certified nurses to assist aged prisoners.

Prisoner and overseer in Totigi jail
Body: CNN
Yoko, a 51-year-old prisoner, turned a nurse whereas serving a sentence. She acquired {qualifications} and now that the workers caring for aged individuals just isn’t sufficient, she helps pensioners to scrub, gown and transfer. Over the previous 25 years, Yoko has been in jail 5 occasions on costs of drug trafficking. In response to her, each time she returns, the age of the prisoners is rising.
Some persons are afraid that they are going to finish with cash. They intentionally commit crimes to be caught they usually may go to jail once more
Supplies on the subject:
College professor invited the aged individuals to die
In 2023, in reference to the demographic disaster, the dearth of homes for the aged and issues with the cost of pensions, the Japanese economist Yusuke Narita, who teaches the College of Yale, known as on the aged Japanese to commit mass suicide.

Guard in jail Totigi
Body: CNN
Narita has repeatedly made such statements. In his opinion, mass suicide or pressured euthanasia is the easiest way out of the scenario that has developed in Japan as a consequence of ageing inhabitants. The aged and non -working persons are changing into increasingly, and the working inhabitants is lowered. Paying state pensions in these circumstances turns into very troublesome. In response to the group of financial cooperation and improvement, 20 p.c of individuals over the age of 65 in Japan stay in poverty in comparison with a mean of 14.2 p.c in different 38 international locations of the group.
It appears to me that there’s the one approach out, and it’s apparent. Finally, this can be a mass suicide and mass sankcock for the aged, is not it?
In response to accusations of cruelty, the 37-year-old professor stated that his phrases have been pulled out of context. He defined that the statements about suicide and Sappuke are a metaphor, and he solely wished to concentrate to the necessity to change elites in Japanese enterprise and politics.
Demographic disaster in Japan
Japan is ageing quicker than another nation on this planet. In response to the most recent knowledge, the nation has nearly 30 p.c of the inhabitants, whose age exceeds 65 years. For comparability, in Russia the aged solely 15.8 p.c, that’s, nearly half as a lot. On the similar time, in 1960, the share of the aged inhabitants in Japan and in Russia was the identical – about six p.c.

Japan is ageing quicker than another nation on this planet
Picture: GlowonconCept / Shutterstock / Fotodom
The jail contingent is even quicker. In simply ten years, the variety of previous individuals in Japanese prisons grew by seven p.c. By 2016, there have been 9308 Japanese over 60 years behind bars. That is 19 p.c of prisoners – an unprecedented stage not just for Japan, but additionally for different international locations.
Prisons adapt to new situations
Every establishment confronted with comparable issues will get out of the scenario in its personal approach. The jail within the metropolis of Takamatsu took the nursing prisoners the primary flooring of the three -story constructing, which was erected in 2010. The truth that it was straightforward to depart the digicam in a wheelchair or exit on crutches from the digicam, took care of the development stage.
A male jail within the metropolis of Tokushima allotted a complete prisoner to the entire constructing. Those that, as a consequence of superior age, couldn’t work in a jail manufacturing unit, the place sneakers and underwear will be settled there. For them, they discovered an easier work that may be carried out proper within the cell. The previous individuals take care of skilled nurses. They crush noodles and different meals prematurely for many who have misplaced their tooth and aren’t in a position to chew meals themselves.

Prisoners Totigi prisons at work
Body: CNN
Tokushima is the one massive correctional establishment in Japan with a separate constructing the place the aged prisoners stay and work. Different prisons are carried out with out it, however the necessity to maintain behind bars so many elderly persons are pockets for everybody. Over ten years, this expense merchandise has elevated by 80 p.c.