Japan is facing a worrying trend: elderly people are increasingly committing minor crimes to get imprisoned. The main reason is poverty and a lack of social support. The state pension, which barely covers daily expenses, pushes seniors to steal food from stores they visit regularly. As demographer Michael Newman notes, the low pension is insufficient to cover basic needs like housing, food, and healthcare. In the past, children traditionally cared for their parents, but now economic difficulties force young people to leave rural areas, leaving the elderly to fend for themselves. Many elderly criminals do not want to be a burden on their children and see prison as the only way to secure food, shelter, and medical care. This phenomenon has led to the transformation of prisons from places of punishment into facilities resembling nursing homes, with a focus on rehabilitation and healthcare. However, experts warn that this creates a huge financial burden on the budget and points to a deeper failure in the social support system. For example, in Fukushima prisons, elderly inmates often require walkers or help with hygiene. The system finds it increasingly difficult to deal with psychological issues like dementia before releasing inmates. Despite this, for some, prison becomes a refuge. One inmate, a 67-year-old referred to as N, says he feels happy here as he finds support and an opportunity to learn. He believes his time in prison is a way to live with dignity and not be a burden on society.
