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Yomiuri Shimbun
29-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Penal Code Changes Allow More Flexible Approach to Inmates; Marks Shift to Rehabilitation, Preventing New Offenses
The Yomiuri Shimbun An inmate at Fuchu Prison in Fuchu, western Tokyo, uses an exercise machine to maintain his physical functions on May 12. Changes in the Penal Code's sentencing categories — the first since the law was established in 1907 — mark a significant shift toward a more flexible system with a greater focus on rehabilitation and preventing recidivism after an inmate is released. The code's categories of 'imprisonment with labor' and 'imprisonment without labor' will be abolished as of Sunday and replaced by a single 'confinement' category. This will allow for a more flexible, personalized approach to individual inmates that combines conventional prison work with new forms of guidance and education. Prisons across Japan have been conducting such programs on a trial basis, but success will require addressing a range of issues, including changing the mindset of prison staff and providing support for social reintegration after inmates are released. The 'confinement' sentence will require inmates to be detained in a penal institution, but the revised law stipulates that 'necessary' assigned work will be done and 'necessary guidance' can be provided to help prisoners rehabilitate and better themselves. Prison labor will no longer be mandatory. The 'imprisonment with labor' and 'imprisonment without labor' categories will be abolished. These changes are being introduced against a backdrop of a graying prison population and worsening recidivism rates. In 2023, a record-high 14.3% of the people who entered the prison system were aged 65 or older. Many of these elderly prisoners are unable to keep up with prison work due to their declining physical strength and cognitive function. Of the people arrested for Penal Code offences that year, 47% were repeat offenders. 'The way we deal with inmates needs to place greater emphasis on helping them get back on their feet,' a senior Justice Ministry official said. Five years ago, Fuchu Prison in Fuchu, western Tokyo, began conducting activities designed to 'improve physical functions' as a de facto form of rehabilitation for elderly inmates. Prisoners who find it difficult to do regular labor such as assembling furniture instead engage in strength training, including riding exercise bicycles, and mental exercises, which involve memory tests on digital devices. 'I had a back pain, so before I could do only simple tasks like folding cloth,' said an 86-year-old inmate currently behind bars for a ninth time because he repeatedly shoplifted due to hardship. 'My back is much better now thanks to the rehabilitation program. After I leave prison, I want to register at a human resources center for elderly people, find a job and get my life back on track.' Inmate-specific groups The criteria used to divide prisoners into groups also will be overhauled under the revised law. Until now, the ministry has mainly split inmates into first-time offenders and repeat offenders. This uniform standard has been dubbed a 'uniaxial assessment' that in some cases resulted in inmates who were repeat shoplifters doing prison labor at the same location as members of organized crime syndicates. This will change from June with the introduction of new standards that provide a 'multiaxial assessment.' Under this system, prisoners will be divided into groups based on specific details such as age, physical health and whether they have a disability. Inmates will be split into 24 different groups, including 'elderly care' mainly for prisoners aged 70 or older and who struggle to live independently due to dementia and other reasons, and 'addiction recovery' for prisoners who have a history of using drugs. Support after release crucial About 34,000 inmates are held at penal institutions across the nation. According to a senior Justice Ministry official, it is estimated that about only 20% to 30% of the prison population, especially elderly inmates, will be handled with a focus on personalized guidance and education. The majority of inmates will continue to mostly do prison labor during their sentence. Nevertheless, prison staffers will face a raft of challenges adapting to this new system of dealing with prisoners. These staffers will need to acquire the necessary expertise and also change their way of thinking. Another senior ministry official said, 'It'll take some time until every prison officer adjusts their mindset to place the focus of their job on helping inmates rehabilitate.' The ministry plans to provide thorough training for prison staffers on this issue. Support for inmates after their return to society also will be essential. Data shows that about 70% of prisoners who reoffended and returned to prison had been unemployed, so inmates who are unable to find a job after being released are likely to again turn to crime.
Yomiuri Shimbun
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
2025 Expo Osaka: Kimono Sashes Damaged in Noto Reborn as Art; Joint Project Depicts Phoenix, Dragon with Ishikawa Materials
The Yomiuri Shimbun An object created by collecting kimono sashes that could no longer be stored after the disasters including the Noto Peninsula Earthquake, on display in Osaka, on Monday. 'Horyu,' an art piece created by collecting kimono sashes damaged in the Noto Peninsula Earthquake and Okunoto torrential rains last year, was unveiled in front of the Expo Hall Shining Hat at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo on Monday. Standing 3 meters high and 1.8 meters wide, it depicts the wings of a phoenix and the belly of a dragon. Soil and wood from a collapsed house in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, were placed inside to express the artist's wish to overcome hardship and move toward reconstruction. The project was a collaborative effort organized in part by stage director Hiroaki Omote, who also directed the kagura performance on the day, and Tsutomu Shinohara, president of a Kanazawa-based non-profit organization, the Japan kimono culture promotion association. Fifty sashes were used from approximately 5,500 kimonos and sashes donated by quake victims. Omote oversaw design, and Minoru Ishikawa, a Kagawa Prefectural traditional craftsman, sewed the cut sashes. The exhibit was on display only on Monday. Visitors stopped to take pictures while admiring the craftwork. 'The desire that everyone wants to revitalize Noto together pours out of the work,' said Yoshie Benno, 75, from Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture.
Yomiuri Shimbun
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Seven-Eleven Tests Robot Delivery Service on Public Roads; Company Preparing for Future Delivery Staff Shortage
The Yomiuri Shimbun An autonomous robot used to make unmanned deliveries is seen in Hachioji, Tokyo, on Thursday. Seven-Eleven Japan has begun testing an unmanned delivery service using autonomous robots on public roads, with two stores in Hachioji, Tokyo, taking part. The major convenience store operator is considering rolling out the service in other regions to anticipate a potential future shortage of delivery personnel. The test, which is being conducted at the Minami Osawa Ekimae and Hachioji Minamiosawa stores, is expected to be held through the end of February next year. About 3,000 products are available for delivery to households within a three-kilometer radius of the stores. Orders can be placed from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and a delivery fee of ¥330, including tax, is charged. Staff at the stores pack the customer's order into the robot, and the customer uses a QR code to authenticate their order and receive the items. The robot, which was developed by Tokyo-based startup Lomby Inc., travels autonomously on public roads and other routes at a maximum speed of six kilometers per hour while being remotely monitored. In the background of the test, some stores have been unable to offer nighttime delivery services due to a shortage of delivery staff. 'We will verify both the demand and the practical operations to evaluate the possibility of implementing this service across our national store network,' a Seven-Eleven official said.
