Elderly Japanese woman talks about shoplifting
Summary:
A 68 year old elderly woman, from japan, was serving time for stealing grapes. However, this was the fifth time she committing a crime like that, and had to serve time. She explains that the first time she committed a crime was when she was 53 years old and had stolen a bag, but there were tensions at home. Then she committed another crime because she was threatened by a prisoner that made her steal, if she didn't want her criminal record to come out. The reason why she stole the grapes is because they were sweet, and she didn't have the money to buy them. Although she has done this multiple times, she doesn't want to shoplift again.
A 68 year old elderly woman, from japan, was serving time for stealing grapes. However, this was the fifth time she committing a crime like that, and had to serve time. She explains that the first time she committed a crime was when she was 53 years old and had stolen a bag, but there were tensions at home. Then she committed another crime because she was threatened by a prisoner that made her steal, if she didn't want her criminal record to come out. The reason why she stole the grapes is because they were sweet, and she didn't have the money to buy them. Although she has done this multiple times, she doesn't want to shoplift again.
As the older Japanese people get, they have started to make an increase in committing crime that puts them in prison. There are many people here who committed crimes because they didn't get along with their children. They felt lonely, and their children have their own life. Due to that, they have no time to care for their parents, which then led to these impulsive acts of crime. Junko Ageno is a prison warden at Tochigi prison, and reveal how most of the older Japanese want to go to prison.
She talked to the repeated offenders and found out that most of them were abandoned by family, and are lonely and isolated. Junko Ageno also found out that the prison gave them food, a place to shelter and some familiar acquaintances to hangout with. Those images felt safer inside the prison then outside in society. When a prisoner finished their term, they usually shoplift again to try get back inside the prison.
Reaction:
When I was reading this article, I was extremely surprised by how someone could get jailed stealing grapes. Usually in the U.S, I would think that the worst punishment would be fine, but instead, in Japan you get jailed for doing such thing. Further down the article I found out that the elderly were being abandoned by their family. I was shocked by this, thinking that the people that raised and took care of that person, in return they abandon and leave their parents. At the end of the article, it made more sense why the elderly wanted to go to prison, because they had more "family" in the prison, rather than the outside.
Connection:
This connects to the Soviet Unions revolution during WWII. In both situations food was really expensive and was not accessible to all people. In the Japanese situation the elderly did not have enough money to buy food. Similar to the Soviet Union, citizens could not afford food because of how little they had. Another similarity was when citizens got punished for committing a crime. In the Japanese situation they were sent to prison and had to serve time. Where for the Soviets, citizens had to work in the Gulags, for the crimes they committed as well. A final connection is how Schindler saved many Jews from the Nazis. Like the Jews on the Schindler's list, those Jews were safe, and had food and shelter from danger. In this case, the prison was a safe place for the elderly Japanese citizens and they had food and shelter as well.
Not specifically towards the elderly, but I think that any person who would be abandoned by their loved ones and forced to financially struggle in society would consider any place that can provide shelter and food, a home for them. Needless to say, if I were to end up abandoned by my family and grow old all alone, I wouldn't have any other choice but to stay in prison. However, instead of continuously trying to punish the elderly, I think it would be best to consider senior citizen homes where the elderly are not so alone, and can interact with one another on a daily basis; as well as extra necessities including food and clothing.
ReplyDeleteBeing elderly is not an excuse to be exempt from punishments. Whether they are of old age or not people who do not follow the law should face the consequences. The severity of the consequences, however, should be finalized after the consideration of the mental and emotional stability of the person especially if they are elderly. For example, the article speaks of a 68-year-old woman who explains that she shoplifted on several occasions to deal with stressful circumstances (such as problems within the family and even blackmail). Though it is not right to shoplift to deal with those kinds of situations, finding ways to help the person overcome such impulsive actions should be of priority rather than just jailing them whenever they commit misdemeanors.
ReplyDeleteI believe that being elderly should have no correspondence to the severity of the punishment. I find it really shocking and upsetting that people refer to prison for comfort in their lives. It seems that there is a bigger issue than whether or not elders should be sent to prison, but an issue regarding the cause of the motive to steal something, like grapes. From this article, to me it seems that prison is an escape for people who are lonely and unhappy with their lives in Japan. If I were in the same situation I would probably look for alternative solutions to my problems, but depending on the severity of my situation, I understand why some people might think prison is their only option.
ReplyDeleteI agree with my peers about how the elderly shouldn’t receive “special treatment” when it comes to the law. Everyone should be treated and punished equally based on their actions. However, these occurrences are not limited to the elderly in Japan, and can be seen in other first world countries such as the United Kingdom, US, and Canada. As stated in the article (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hungry-homeless-man-gets-arrested-intentionally/), the individual decided to “resort to crime to seek the safety of prison. The prosecutors had to weigh whether to devote scarce resources to prosecuting a lower-level offense with the burden that comes with upholding the law and deterring others from breaking it”. They commit crimes they know will send them to prison where they will receive medical, food, shelter and companionship. Being homeless has nothing to do with being able to feed one's self, nor does it always equate to one’s access to shelter. In Ireland, they hosted an open thread asking people to list words they associate to homelessness (https://www.thejournal.ie/homeless-word-cloud-1699776-Oct2014/). Unsurprisingly, many of the people had stereotyped “drugs”, “addiction”, “junkie”, and “mental issues” to homelessness. The companionship one has without the interference of greed and jealousy is priceless. When individuals are forced to live on the bare minimum, they tend to set aside differences and look out for each other. Alas, when one has fallen into homelessness, many people will likely cast away the homeless individual and not associate with them. If I were in the same situation, I would try to locate shelters, soup kitchens, and job offers. However, if the situation has come down to a life or death issue, I would most likely resort to committing a crime in order to go to jail.
ReplyDeleteSources: (https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-42057173, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2010/dec/23/homeless-committing-crimes-for-shelter)
Japan is currently the fastest-aging population in the world, with more than a quarter of the population over 65, and it’s potentially rising to 40 percent by 2050. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/world/wp/2018/01/24/feature/so-many-japanese-people-die-alone-theres-a-whole-industry-devoted-to-cleaning-up-after-them/?utm_term=.845859ba4cf1) These statistics show the alarmingly large number of old people in Japan. They are lonely, poor, and hopeless. Japanese adults work nonstop every day due to the lack of labor force. This leads to elders being left home alone and having to survive themselves. This explains why elders go to jail on purpose as they have a constant supply of food, shelter, and communication. If I were the Japanese government, I would establish more retirement homes that provide free daily care for elders. Even though this might cost a lot of money, Japan can collaborate with other countries or accept donations to guarantee the healthy lifestyle of the Japanese population. Another way to mediate the problem is to bring in more labor from foreign countries. With more labor comes shorter working hours. This might allow some adults to take care of their parents at home. In my opinion, whether the elders should be punished for stealing should not be the focus of the Japanese government, it is the long term solution that makes a difference.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is really sad that the elderly would rather stay in prison than stay in their own society. Housing the elderly is definitely not the intended purpose of the Japanese jail system. Furthermore, it disturbs me to see that the elderly have felt lonely due to feeling isolated from their own family and receiving a lack of care and love from their own children. In the article, the prison warden states that in conversation with the repeated offenders in the jail, she realizes that they simply came back because otherwise they were ‘so lonely.’ Given that this is becoming such a widespread problem in Japan amongst the elderly, there should be alternate institutions and non profits which provide at least some resources for the elderly whe feel like jail is the only safe bet for food and shelter. This way, the elderly would then turn to these organizations instead of jail.
ReplyDeleteI have been to Japan, and I noticed that yes, it does feel lonely, but peaceful. Especially like in the city of Kyoto. It does surprise me that anyone would rather stay in prison than be apart of society, but it does make more sense if the topic applies to the elderly. Older people especially those who are retired don't have much to do throughout the day. Those people who started off in poverty don't have much to live off of as they get older, and do loose connection with relatives. I'd say that stealing something like grapes comes with the mindset that either nobody will notice or that stealing means free food. After all, the elderly don't have much they wan't to do in life and expect to live for only a couple more years. They don't really mind being in prison, because they it will only benefit them. If I was in their situation, I'd probably do that same thing honestly. Prison brings people to talk to, free food, and free shelter. It's funny how prison can be a benefit to some people.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to traditional chinese beliefs, I agree with the author’s opinion that the elderly couple should not have been abandoned by their children- I feel that elderly people should be taken care of by their children if they have them. I find it appalling that this poor elderly woman has more than one child, but neither of them think anything of her criminal actions which are clearly a cry for some sort of help. Her son is still leeching off of his very elderly parents while he cannot even hold a job to support himself, let alone his parents. It also seems terrible that her daughter refuses to visit her own mother in jail, while not doing anything to help their situation. To make matters worse, the article states that when she leaves prison, she must take care of her injured husband. In my opinion, there is a time in one’s life where they should no longer be taken care of, but rather take care of their parents. Whether that be financially or physically, it is clear that this elderly couple are not rightfully being supported by their children.
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ReplyDeleteI honestly feel that this is kind of an abuse of the system. The elderly are using prison as a way to escape the conditions of their life and the japanese government is rewarding them for doing it. Instead of handing out proper penalties such as fines for steeling the government is sending them to jail when they want to go their. Jailing cost government money so the elderly are essentilaly being rewarded for their crimes. The law should be their to be followed and punishments used to make sure it is followed. These japanese punishemnts for crimes like this are poor and need reform.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I find it absolutely heartbreaking that many elderly Japanese would rather live the rest of their lives in prison to escape the solitude and sadness of living alone in the country. I feel as though this crime as well as the countless others committed by elderly should serve as a wake up call not only for Japan, but the rest of the world. Actions must be taken to somehow address the feeling of isolation and loneliness many experience in Japan. Instead of just sending their relatives to care homes or assisted living places, the government can better promote the positive benefits of personally caring for your parents ad aged citizens. In regards to punishment, it is only fair if they face some consequence for their actions, however, I strongly believe that punishing will not solve the underlying issue; being the increase of crimes committed as Japanese age. In order to better tackle this problem and ensure fair treatment among prisoners, I hope the Japanese start addressing the problem at its root and invent new ways of helping the elderly feel more cared for and included by their loved ones.
ReplyDeleteThis truly did make me very sad hearing that these elderly Japanese would rather spend parts of their lives in jail, rather than out in society. I do believe that as people and as a government, you have to take a step back at your facilities for the elderly and the quality of those facilities. If a elderly person would rather spend time in jail than in your facilities, it is time to reflect on how the elderly are treated. I do however feel that the feeling of isolation and loneliness is one that is very common in elderly people and can be hard to treat. Especially as the people who you have known for so long begin to disappear, it begins hard to cope with the feeling that you are being left behind. This is where things like better facilities could come into play and could help bring the elderly together. Also while it is incredibly sad that the elderly are resorting to these action, I don't believe that they should just be let off completely. While a crime like taking grapes in no way deserves harsh punishment, I do believe some crimes, no matter the age,still deserve punishment. I believe the best thing to do with these people is to talk to them about what they could do better and what they could do to help these people not feel the need to resort to breaking the law. Instead of putting them away, use these people as ways to learn and try to benefit the overall community.
ReplyDeleteIt is very appalling and kind of depressing seeing that the elderly would go to jail rather than stay in their society. It does make sense though because their children are usually to busy to worry about the elderly and at their health they can't really work so instead they go to jail where they get food and a place to rest. Just because it makes sense does not mean it's right. The elderly where the people who did take care of our society when we were to young to. So at least we should look to make sure that they have a normal life. If I was in this situation I would probably look to go to jail because it would be easier than keep struggling in my old age. I don't think punishing the elderly is right because that won't solve the problem at hand which is people need to take care of the older generation. So instead the country should look to find ways to make the elder citizen's lives easier instead of putting them in jail because they aren't stealing because they won't pay but instead just so they can go to jail and live with the necessities they are living without due to peoples ignorance.
ReplyDeleteSteve Thomas
I think that there is a systematic issue where elders in Japanese society are not receiving the aid that they require. Being left with an overwhelming sense of loneliness, elders turn to crime and prison to force some sort of human contact. Since when has society been so unbearable that an individual would prefer prison over living in their regular neighborhood? With modern technology radically developing, many younger people abandon their parents for the "new world". We observe this issue occurring not only in Japan, but throughout other eastern asian countries such as Korea and China. These elderly people have little to no contact with other people and often end up spending signifiant periods of time alone. While the American governments spends a significant amount on building senior homes and establishing programs, there are other alternatives. Considering the government plays a pretty important role in the lives of Japanese people, I think it wold be appropriate to educate these younger individuals about the importance of caring for parents. This way, they avoid the spending issue and create a new culture.
ReplyDeleteI think that they definitely need to improve the living conditions in Japan for the elderly. If it's got to the point where elders are going to jail, there needs to be a solution. If I were in this situation I would try to create a retirement home for the elders/seniors. Going to jail is ridiculous and they can't fend for themselves. There should be an option for a retirement home as they have no one to help them. However, I think it's still right to punish elders to an extent. If you give them complete leniency, it could get to the point where they commit severe crimes. But if it's a small crime such as stealing grapes, they should still be punished, but not jailed.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you, I think that they should make some sort of system for the elderly. Instead of having an elderly people go to jail, Japan should make a community System for the elderly instead. Like you said it in your response, Japan should make a retirement system for the elders and seniors, and I completely agree with you. However, I respectfully disagree with you when you say there should be punishments for the elderly. I think that the elderly have gone through enough, and should get a lecture rather than years in prison. Although, I still agree with you there should not be punishment for stealing grapes or tiny object of desire. Overall, the Japanese government should do something about this matter.
DeleteIt is very sad that society has broken down so much that elderly people feel more comfortable in a prison than outside in the world. It seems inevitable that the elderly will fell lonely and out of place of society because their children have moved on and the role have been reversed about who cares for who. Because their children now have their own family and lives they won't be able to care for the elderly which causes the elderly to feel separated from society. In general, it is hard for an elderly person to reconnect in society so it is heartbreaking how they come to the conclusion to criminalize themselves to put themselves in a community. I don't think it is necessarily right to punish the elderly from a moral standpoint because of the stereotype that they are helpless and can't hurt anyone. On the other hand, the prison system can't just allow a specific group of people to get away with crimes. There needs to be a deterrent for any type of crime for any type of people to keep them from repeating the crimes. A possible solution to this problem is the change the culture of caring for the elderly or create more organizations that care for the elderly. I believe that the ladder option is more reasonable because the elderly will feel that sense of community and be cared for better than in a prison and it seems that Japan can afford the establishment of the organizations.
ReplyDeleteI think that like many others have said above, the elderly woman trying to get into prison because she is lonely is extremely sad. I also think that stealing grapes is an incredibly trivial crime to be thrown into prison for, especially if she was trying to feed herself to survive. It is heartbreaking that her children would simply abandon her and leave her feeling so isolated. No one should ever want to go to jail because they are unhappy with their lives and that is one main thing wrong with today's society. According to Business Insider (https://www.businessinsider.com/jail-getting-arrested-deliberately-2018-3#to-kick-a-drug-habit-4) many people in the US attempt to get arrested and go to jail because jail gives them access to healthcare, may help them beat a drug addiction, and makes them feel less lonely. 9 out of 10 women who get arrested in Japan are arrested for shoplifting and half of these women reported that that they lived by themselves and rarely visited/talked to family. This means that these innocent women are being arrested because they are either hungry or have no one to turn to. The elderly in Japan should have access to more community programs and ways to meet others.
ReplyDeleteI think that the elderly people in Japan are in distressing situations but they shouldn’t go as far as stealing to make up for it. Growing up is a part of life and kids moving out is a part of parenthood. Sure, it would be sad the day that that comes but they can always come back to visit. Addressing the problem that Japanese elders feel lonely without their kids, the government should find a way to create entertainment for them instead of just sending them to jail and not fixing the problem.
ReplyDelete-Hussain
I find it extremely sad that the elderly are going to jail and are lonely because the youth do not take care of them. After reading the article, my immediate reaction was surprise about how the elderly are punished just from stealing something as small as grapes which stated in the article, is worth only about $5 USD. I believe the elderly find prison much better than society because, like stated in the article, the elderly are very lonely with nobody to take care of them in society. The elderly make friends with one another in prison, and repeat offenders may even have friends in prison already. Compared to the outside society, where the elders are only stuck with the youth who do not take care of them or slack off while being lonely at the same time, prison is a much preferable choice since the elders have friends in there. While many people say this is a exploit of the system, I believe the elderly are a exception, since they are poor and old, unable to support themselves while they are required to support family members who only slack off. Compared to America today, I believe that the elderly deserve much better than the homeless we have here in the streets who just do drugs, slack off, take welfare, medicare, charity, AND donations. I believe that even though the elderly are technically exploiting the system, their actions are completely justifiable considering their current situations.
ReplyDeleteIt’s surprising and sad to see that the ederly in Japan prefer jail over society. I think since Japan knows about this problem and knows that the motive for the majority of these elderly people is to be with others like them, the government should set up retirement homes in which the elderly can live comfortably and be with others of their own type. This can be similar to the ones we have in the US, but because this happens with people that don’t necessarily have a lot of money, the government can try to make these homes low cost or free. Japan, unlike the US, does not have federal programs that handout money to unemployed people that meet certain requirments, so they could potentially use that money to help the elderly. These new elderly homes will stop the elderly from commiting crimes, as it will provide a place to go with people they can connect with, without having to commit a crime. These homes will also provide a much better life than prisons. This would result in less crime, which improves societal life as a whole. I do not believe the elderly should be treated any difference when talking about the law, but I do think that going to jail for stealing grapes is a little harsh. Personally, if I were in this situation, would do things that make me happy or invest my time in some sort of passion. I think that the law applies to everyone and that no one is above it.
ReplyDeletehttps://jp.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/-japan-u-s-citizens/
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/abenomics-and-japanese-economy
The fact that the elderly find prison better than society is caused by society's flaws. As stated in the original article, one of the reasons as to why the elderly steal to get into prison is that the elderly feel lonely without their children. Societal pressures prevent people from spending time with their parents. People who finish college are faced with debt and have to pay back their student loans. Their need to make enough money for a living and transition into being able to live independently is a struggle. They have to spend more time on their job and may even need to work in another country far away, ultimately preventing them from spending time with the elderly. Personally, if I were in this situation I believe I would steal and live in prison. This problem seems to be better taken care of in America as cities have senior centers where the elderly can find entertainment and not feel lonely. The Old Americans Act that was passed in Congress in 1965 is an example of the actions taken by the government to help support the elderly (https://acl.gov/about-acl/authorizing-statutes/older-americans-act).
ReplyDeleteI am also very surprised that one could be imprisoned just for stealing grapes. She committed a very small crime; it was not “right”, but it wasn’t for an unethical cause. She did not have any criminal intents. Although I can understand how others believe that being elderly is no excuse for shoplifting, there are many other factors that play into this situation. According to japantimes.co.jp, a study in Japan showed that "As of Oct. 1, 2015, 1 in every 8 men aged 65 or older and 1 in every 5 women of the same age category live alone” (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/06/29/national/japan-census-report-shows-surge-elderly-population-many-living-alone/#.XHdzw89KhTY) Also, a high percentage of seniors report being lonely, which further harms their declining health. This fact accentuates how the elderly are drifting away from younger generations. Seniors should not have an excuse just for being old, but they truly are more likely to be isolated from society. It is shocking to learn about this isolation, especially since this happens in a country where the elderly were once lived with and highly respected. As to choosing to go to prison on purpose, this fact just further emphasizes the isolation seniors face from society, and the desperate measures they do to be comfortable. I believe that more senior homes should be established for them to live instead of the elderly having to live in prisons, which are dangerous and meant for criminals.
ReplyDeleteIt’s both extremely upsetting, and surprising to me that the elderly would prefer to be imprisoned rather than to live free. And I believe this goes to blame society and the government. As the article said, these elders are preferring prison because they feel alone. But, if anyone is to that point, I believe it’s the government's job to step in and provide nursing and/or retirement homes for those that are in need. Grapes, or any inexpensive food, should not be a problem to obtain for the elderly. And if they’re caught stealing similar things, I do not think they deserve to be punished so harshly. I think the most logical result should be placing them in an assisted living home.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think that just because a person is elderly they should not be punished for their wrong doings. If nothing were to happen to people who act against the law, what would stop more people from disobeying the rules? That being said, their punishment should not only look at what they did wrong, but also look at the person’s psychological well being. If elderly are feeling so alone that they revert to stealing and doing illegal activities just so they can go to prison, then it’s a sign they need help or that something needs to change. A prison is a place that people who are bad or who have done illegal stuff go. It’s a punishment, not a place the elderly should want to end up and there is something extremely wrong with society to make elderly feel like their only option to companionship and to escape society is to end up in one. Although I still wholeheartedly agree that people who break the law should be punished, instead of worrying about why the elderly are doing this, people should start looking into how to stop it. Obviously, jail is not an option, since it has unfortunately become more of a reward than a punishment. If people have to turn to jail for solving their companionship problems and as an escape, it’s a sign there needs to be a change in society.
ReplyDeleteThe act of purposely going to jail is not very uncommon in third world countries. As you stated in prison they receive all the basic necessities to survive. So rather than starve many people will attempt to steal that would greatly benefit them, and in that situation the person could never fail. If they managed to steal the item they would keep it and try again. If the person were caught they would be sent to prison and just continue their life. However, these elderly people should never be put in this situation to start. It's really sad how you could spend your life raising your child and then them just abandon you and leave you to starve. These people need help and a community of their own where they can find a second family in the real world instead of i a jail cell.
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