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For Japan's Growing Population Of Seniors, Prison Is An Oasis05:52
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March 28, 2018

This picture taken on July 24, 2015 shows women having a meal together at a rehabilitation facility to support reintegration for former prisoners in Tokyo. For Japan's increasing cohort of elderly prison inmates, the prospect of a life of freedom upon release is fraught with unease. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)

This article is more than 3 years old.

Elderly Japanese women are committing minor crimes in order to go to prison, where they find community and purpose.

Gerontology scholar Emiko Takagi (@EmikoTakagi) joins Here & Now's Meghna Chakrabarti to explain the challenges Japan is facing with its rapidly aging population, and what's driving women to do this.

This segment aired on March 28, 2018.

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For Japan's Growing Population Of Seniors, Prison Is An Oasis05:52
Copy the code below to embed the WBUR audio player on your site
<iframe width="100%" height="124" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" src="https://player.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/03/28/japan-senior-population-prison"></iframe>

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