CNN has learned of the voluntary imprisonment of retired women in Japan for the sake of survival

In Japan, pensioners began to voluntarily surrender to law enforcers or commit petty crimes to go to prison for the sake of free medicine and regular meals. This was reported by CNN on January 18.

"There are people here who say they are ready to pay 20 thousand or 30 thousand yen (13-20 thousand rubles. - Ed.) a month to live here forever," shared an employee of the women's prison in the north of Tokyo, Takashi Shiranaga.

One of the prisoners, an 81-year-old woman, shared with the TV channel's reporter that she committed her second theft because she was living on a very small pension that was paid every two months.

"I made a wrong decision and committed shoplifting thinking it would be a minor problem. <...> There are very nice people in this prison. This life is probably the most stable for me," she noted.

During their incarceration, pensioners receive regular meals and free medical care. According to another inmate, 51-year-old Yoko, some people intentionally commit crimes when they run out of money so they can re-enter prison.

The publication noted that the number of prisoners aged 65 and older across Japan nearly quadrupled between 2003 and 2022.

Earlier, January 8, The Japan Times, referring to the calculations of Tohoku University professor Hiroshi Yoshida, reported on the forecasts of falling birth rates in Japan. It is noted that by 2720 there will be one child under 14 years old in the country.