Despite Japan's reputation for safety and having one of the lowest crime rates, its recidivism rate is surprisingly high, with 50% of former inmates reoffending within five years of their release (Toby M, 2020). In fact, Hodges (2020) found that Japan’s recidivism rate resembles that of the US, despite the different nature of their prison systems – the former focusing on rehabilitation and the latter stressing punishment. Therefore, this article will shed light on how life behind bars shapes the post-release lives of ex-inmates in Japan.

Life Behind Bars

The daily routine of a prisoner in Japan is planned to every detail. From the exact portion of their meals, the standard of cleanliness of their cells, to the timing of their shift to different parts of the prison, they are under the control of strict orders and rules. As a result, there have been no major riots in the past 50 years, while the escape and suicide rates are also minimal, especially compared to countries like the US (Shinkai, 2011). Discipline is instilled in prisoners as part of the rehabilitative programme, combined with other schemes that aim to provide inmates with skills, knowledge, and mindset that prepare them for reintegration, ultimately preventing them from reoffending. 

Adopting the concept of industrial prison from the US, Japan requires most inmates to participate in prison work. Over 80% of inmates conduct work that is meant to teach them vocational skills and strengthen their sense of self-reliance and work ethic (Shinkai, 2011). Although this can be seen as a productive use of inmates’ time in prison, it raises doubts about both its effectiveness and ethical implications. Firstly, they are prohibited from verbally interacting with one another during work hours unless permitted by the guards, possibly due to safety and disciplinary concerns (Witness | History & Crime, 2023). However, this casts doubts on how working in silence resembles the reality of society, and how such practice can realistically prepare them for social reintegration. Secondly, there is a sense of exploitation as these workers are poorly compensated. Additionally, some products they produce are sold by the prison in the annual Tokyo Detention House Prison Festival, which is criticised by some for not reinvesting the profits made into improving the conditions of the facilities, such as installing heaters for the cold winters (Witness | History & Crime, 2023).

Japanese prisons also offer education to certain inmates, in particular to those who have yet to complete their compulsory education or have low academic abilities in general. Basic subjects like Japanese, maths, and civics are taught with the chance to sit high school-level examinations. Aside from knowledge, values are taught through rehabilitative programmes. They aim to ingrain a sense of responsibility for the crime into the inmates through treatment programmes for substance abuse and sexual offences and guidance for withdrawal from organised crime groups. Practical knowledge is also provided for adapting to societal practices such as traffic guidance and employment assistance guidance (Shinkai, 2011). The combination of work, education, and rehabilitation seems to comprehensively prepare inmates to reintegrate into society, yet the recidivism rate remains high. 

Life Beyond Bars

The problem may lie on the other side of the bars. Former inmates have shared the challenges they encountered during reintegration due to the stigma present in this conservative society. This stigma not only creates social pressure but causes actual inconvenience to starting their second life. The “ex-con” label made it difficult to complete basic tasks like job hunting, opening bank accounts, or even registering with mobile carriers due to prejudice in society (Ishikawa, 2022). While inmates are taught how to adapt to society, society is not educated on how to accept them. 

Atsushi Funahashi, the director of the docudrama, “The Burden of the Past”, explored the harsh reality behind recidivism in his work and shared his insights on Japanese society’s unforgiving mindset towards criminals. This value is reflected in the widespread support (>80%) for the death penalty in Japan and the common perception of prisons being a punitive institution instead of rehabilitative. He believes the high recidivism rate is a result of both the “severe legal penalties and social punishments” (Toby M, 2020). 

Such public perception may stem from the image officials have painted for the prison system. Despite ongoing revision and amendments of the prison law in light of human rights abuse accusations, the role of prison is glorified to the public through campaigns like the Tokyo Detention House Prison Festival (​​東京拘置所矯正展). This annual festival is held on the grounds of the detention house to celebrate its role in keeping Japanese society safe. Festivities include art, cultural, and even ‘arrests’ performances, the sale of prison-made products and prison food and drinks, namely the infamous prison currency, which is an inaccurate representation of what inmates receive according to an ex-inmate (Tokyo Detention House Festival, n.d.; Witness | History & Crime, 2023). This festival has remained popular over the years and consistently draws crowds of over 10,000 visitors. The gimmicky activities have further contributed to the public’s superficial understanding of the prison system. Despite being a prison-themed event, there are no educational booths or flyers that inform the public about the realities of life behind bars, let alone any mention of human rights abuse issues (Tokyo Detention House Festival, n.d.). Furthermore, while celebrations take place on the grounds of the facility, the public is not allowed access to the buildings. The festival exacerbates the detachment of the public from those incarcerated. 

The True Punishment

While Japan’s ‘unforgiving mindset’ might be what deters crimes and maintains its exceptional safety levels, it creates a social cleavage between inmates and the public. Once behind bars, their likelihood to return is oddly high for the comprehensive schemes that properly prepare them for reintegration. Instead, the social punishment, as Funahashi said, is what turns them back. Although the condition of prisons in Japan is much more comfortable than others (especially in other Asian countries), with a much cleaner environment and little issue of overcrowding, the true punishment for inmates might be the indelible social impact. 

Bibliography

Hodges, M. (2020). Is Japan’s Prison System More Effective at Rehabilitating Convicted Felons than the US Federal Prison System?

Ishikawa, S. (2022, May 30). Former inmates talk about their lives after prison on radio show | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis. The Asahi Shimbun. https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14633177

Shinkai, H. (2011). After Amendment of the Prison Law: Current Japanese Correctional Administration. International Journal of Comparative and Applied Criminal Justice, 34(2), 331–349.

Toby M. (2020, March 22). Shogo Suzuki: The CEO changing Japanese society’s attitude to ex-inmates - Japan Today. Japantoday.com. https://japantoday.com/category/features/executive-impact/shogo-suzuki-the-ceo-changing-japanese-society%E2%80%99s-attitude-to-ex-inmates

Tokyo Detention House Festival. (n.d.). Pink Visitor. Retrieved April 5, 2024, from https://pinkvisitor.com/tokyo-detention-house-festival/

Witness | History & Crime. (2023, December). What’s Life Like Inside A Japanese Prison? | Witness | HD Japan Jail Crime Documentary. Www.youtube.com. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4Z0xCyfKSI&t=1475s

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