Elderly women in Japan choosing to go to jail instead of living alone as country faces loneliness epidemic

Warning: This article contains discussion of mental health and suicidal thoughts which some readers may find distressing

Some inmates at a Japanese women's prison reportedly 'do bad things on purpose' because they prefer life on the inside.

In the southern village of Ichinono, Japan, as a result of there being less than 60 people currently residing there, life-sized dolls have been created instead to battle feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Elsewhere, a man has been hiring himself out to lonely people, getting paid pretty much to 'do nothing' - so bad is the loneliness epidemic in the country, that members of a women's prison have since spoken out about why inmates commit crimes and how life compares on the inside versus outside.

Loneliness is reportedly a motivator for women to commit offences to land themselves in prison (Getty Stock Image)

Inmates' reasoning

An 81-year-old inmate at Japan's largest women's prison - Tochigi Women's Prison - located north of Tokyo told CNN there are 'very good people' in the prison and she's found herself questioning whether prison life is 'the most stable for [her]'.

The inmate was arrested for shoplifting food and reflected if she'd 'been financially stable' and 'had a comfortable lifestyle' she 'definitely wouldn't have done it'.

In Tochigi Women's Prison, inmates get regular meals and free healthcare, while being required to work in the prison's factories.

This, coupled with being surrounded by other women to make friends with, is a motivator for some seeing prison as a better option when compared with life on the outside.

The inmate reflected on her son's lack of support and how she ended up feeling like she 'didn't care what happened anymore'.

Prison provides free healthcare (Getty Stock Image)

She said: "I thought, ‘There’s no point in me living,’ and ‘I just want to die'. [...] 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’m too old to do anything about it now."

While the inmate reportedly completed her sentence in October, another inmate, aged 51, claimed some women 'do bad things on purpose and get caught so that they can come to prison again, if they run out of money'.

And officers at the prison have seen cases like this too.

Some reportedly turn to prison when they've run out of money (Getty Stock Image)

Officers' insights

Officer at Tochigi Women’s Prison, Takayoshi Shiranaga confirmed there 'are people who come here because it's cold or because they're hungry' or because they receive 'free medical treatment'.

Shiranaga added: "There are even people who say they will pay 20,000 or 30,000 yen ($130-190) a month (if they can) live here forever."

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 to reach a 24-hour crisis center or you can webchat at 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.