An 81-year-old woman in Japan, named Akiyo, has not only amused people with her antics but also highlighted the country’s problem of an ageing population. How? Akiyo, 81, commits crimes on purpose so that she can stay in jail to beat loneliness and have stability in life. Akiyo first committed the crime of stealing food when she was in her 60s. However, since she could not survive living on a meagre pension and was also abandoned by her son, she decided to deliberately repeat the offence to go to jail, reported the South China Morning Post.
Reflecting on her crime and what made her do so, Akiyo said, “I made a poor decision and shoplifted, thinking it would be a minor issue. If I had been financially stable and had a comfortable lifestyle, I definitely would not have done it.”
The report suggested that Akiyo earlier lived with her son, who is 43 years old. However, after being abandoned by her and lacking social support, she was lonely and in despair. “I felt like I did not care what happened anymore. I thought, ‘There is no point in me living,’ and ‘I just want to die,’” she shared.
Akiyo was released from prison in October 2024, but she now feared shame for her mistakes. “I am afraid of how he (her son) might perceive me. Being alone is a very difficult thing, and I feel ashamed that I ended up in this situation. I really feel that if I had a stronger will, I could have led a different life, but I am too old to do anything about it now,” Akiyo said.
Her unusual story was shared on China’s social media and it soon gained people’s attention. Many netizens sympathised with Akiyo. One user said, “How selfish must a person be to tell his own mother: ‘I wish you could leave?’ This is heartbreaking.” While another user said, “a real-life version of the O. Henry stories we read as children.”
Why some seniors in Japan prefer going to jail
Akiyo’s heart-breaking story of loneliness and lack of social or financial support, unfortunately, has become quite common in Japan. A 2022 report by the Japanese government reveals that over 80 percent of senior women inmates were jailed for theft. Not just this, the number of female inmates who are age 65 and above has also increased roughly four times in the last 20 years (since 2003), the report suggests.
Commenting on this rising social issue, Takayoshi Shiranaga, who is an officer at Tochigi Women’s Prison in Japan, said, “For many elderly inmates, prison is preferable to dying alone outside.” He also shared that some seniors are also willing to pay 20,000 to 30,000 yen every month to be in prison, if possible.
Considering the ageing population in Japan and many of them living alone, it is unfortunate that some seniors even die in loneliness. There’s even a Japanese term ‘Kodokushi’ which refers to when a person dies alone and it goes undetected for a very long time. The term ‘Kodokushi’ can be translated to “lonely death” in English, highlighting Japan’s ageing population problem.
Tips to beat loneliness for elderly people
1. Stay socially connected
Join local clubs, senior centres, or hobby groups. Have regular calls or video chats with family and friends. Have a social group, apart from family, for emotional support.
2. Adopt a pet
A pet provides companionship and a sense of purpose. Even a small pet, like a fish or bird, can bring comfort.
3. Stay physically active
Walking groups or yoga classes can improve mood and social life. Exercise boosts mental well-being and reduces stress.
