Behind Bars In Japan's High Security Prisons | Witness | Japan Prison Documentary

[@saulchapnick1566]

I have been involved in senior long term residences for decades. These jails provide better care than most assisted living facilities in the United States.

[@cristianhcm1914]

Well said 👍

[@jcspider7259]

Yes. Also, prisons are no cost to their occupants, while assisted living facilities have significant costs to residents.

[@saulchapnick1566]

@@jcspider7259 you are overlooking one thing. These jails are costly to the taxpayers. I was observing how many care staff it took to care for the prisoners and keep the place clean. It’s doable. If assisted living facilities cannot provide that level of care because of “affordability “, they shouldn’t be in business.

[@marie_FKH]

As someone who lost their grandmother due to neglect from an assisted-living facility it makes me so incredibly sad when those who work in the industry confirm what we sadly already know. I don’t try to keep my health up for myself, but my parents because I refuse to ever let them be out of my care no matter how hard it gets.

[@cristianhcm1914]

@marie_FJB God bless your Grandmother. Hello from Phoenix Arizona 👋

[@4evelyn734]

This made me sad but at the same time I was glad to see these older women treated with dignity.

[@teamcougars]

So sad to think about elderly people wanting to go to prison because they are lonely 😢💔💔

[@stbaz]

And usually very poor.

[@teddychu1177]

@@stbaz And have way too many medical needs than regular insurance can cover or they can afford... even with all the subsidies they're income doesn't cover enough...

[@John-p9j8o]

We have prisons for seniors here in America, we call them Nursing Homes.

[@johnsomn2148]

There are several federal prison with a high population of elderly inmates.

[@FYMASMD]

What a moronic statement. But hey, you’re American. That’s normal for you people.

[@Madness1337]

@@johnsomn2148 Yes but only because they got locked up for decades when they were younger and aged inside the prisons. The difference is here the seniors aren't going on crime sprees

[@John-p9j8o]

@@Madness1337 Read my statement again please, it was a tongue in cheek comment.

[@obsidianeyedgoddess1994]

Not all nursing homes are like that. Not everyone is able to care for their elderly loved ones at home.

[@radolfkalis4041]

SO, SO sad...the only thing they want in life is some companionship, a roof over their head, and food. To have to purposely commit a crime to get sent to Prison to get it...

[@irenedavo3768]

No Children?

[@DeKitten]

@@irenedavo3768 Some woman aren't able to bear children. So yeah. No children. They see this as the only option for them if they can't afford a care home on their own.

[@watermelonlover745]

I bet some Americans do this too. You're guaranteed a bed

[@msr1116]

There are ex convict again committing crimes in order to return to prison because they could not adapt to life outside.

[@EmmaMarie7]

@radolfkalis4041 japanese no longer respect the elderly and the parents are thrown out and not taken care of because of the financial drain- however wealthy they may be - similar to the usa but usa treats them much worse.

[@ValC-vn5vl]

I can’t say that I wouldn’t take advantage of jail if I’m older and poor.

[@Miimiii551]

Why are you talking on the train after you just said that’s it’s considered rude? You could’ve filmed and done a voice over instead of ruining those commuters journey 🙄

[@biboydoce8924]

What rehabilitation? They do not need that.These seniors will commit crimes over and over again because living in prison is way better than living outside.

[@dottieland7061]

That guy is a jerk . It’s pure respect not to talk on the train. I have lived in Tokyo for 25 years he annoyed the hell out of me. It’s just our only time we have quiet before the storm.

[@AmorDivino-e5q]

Many people die alone in Japan, to live in a jail and to be happy about it is really weird.

[@pahanin2480]

Housing, 3 meals a day, clothing, laundry, and a job.

[@mariedowdles2498]

And most important, companionship and friends. ❤

[@theotheleo6830]

Prison seems much nicer there. In the US, from the videos I've seen, prison appears to be extremely dangerous.

[@StonerKitchen]

​@@theotheleo6830prisons are a reflection of its society...

[@yvonneplant9434]

​@@mariedowdles2498I'm a senior. I have all the friends I want. I don't need new ones.

[@jimd2101]

This must suck to be older and still work every day.....Japan could punish them better by just letting them go and fend for themselves again....🤣🤣🤣

[@zoebear1992]

So sad! Praying for them and everyone else who needs a prayer!

[@vincentkeller4725]

You ain't praying shit!

[@roguejeff1]

So sad to see this. I thought surely that Japan would have a solid social system in place to care for retirees and the elderly (outside of imprisonment), since their society reportedly has such great respect for seniors. I'm genuinely suprised.

[@flowerpower3618]

I like that they have their own little rooms even if they are very small.

[@words.Of.Truth.]

It's a prison

[@robertsantiago953]

The joke is that in prison they have bigger rooms than regular apartments outside 😂

[@lienbijs1205]

​@@words.Of.Truth.There are countries where they have to sleep with a lot of peoppe together.

[@susanengel-ix8bl]

It's a prison, this isn't a luxury, they might be saying they are better off but you can't convince me.

[@SanSan-lb9iv]

Prison for the old is not the answer. Why is there an increase of crimes committed by old folks? The root cause of all these petty thief is neglect of the old from society. If your kids left you to work in cities, you got failing health issues, got no support. Old folks have mental health issues no matter how you choose to ignore it. If you are so poor that access to bare necessities is compromised. Will you steal or just die? Ask yourself this question first.

[@yapvkeen6676]

@@Beth_1982-h2sahhhhhhh… I see my comment TRIGGERED some western selfish mentality within you to get so personal and defensive… in order to justify your OWN perspective hahahaha. LOLLOLOL😎

[@Bigbacon]

12 min video about prisons and it has like 3 minute of actual talk about the prisons.

[@sueweatherby8845]

I dare say that the video came first and the title last, to attract viewers. But it's actually a good little insight into Japanese society.

[@lightloveandawake3114]

This is so sad, the elderly, purposefully getting themselves arrested, just so they can have better lives. Thank you, that you are rehabilitating them to be carers of children in their neighborhood which will alleviate mothers with young children.

[@blanne9628]

0:19 - a traffic light system. We have those here in the UK too. We also wait when the pedestrian crossing light turns red. We also go when it turns green.

[@margaretwade]

And Canada - it is the norm.

[@jbre7233]

What they mean is that no one is jaywalking, or hurrying across when it’s already red. It’s the busiest pedestrian intersection in the world, and yet it’s safe and accident free.

[@thomassargent-j6e]

Nobody here in America does that.

[@janlascko]

Having been stationed in Iwakuni, this just breaks my heart. I'm so terrified of nursing homes here in the US.

[@yanajones8498]

Giving a 10 minute dissertation on the rule of absolutely no talking on the train, while sitting on the train. SMH

[@v.m.8472]

I agree! So very rude!

[@CSI426]

It's quite obvious that the seniors wanted to be in the prison intentionally. The last prisoner, while holding the baby doll, mentioned that he has no children. The prison cell shown looks cleaner than many of the nursing home facilities in the US my parents were in.

[@kebabtank]

Interesting to see that none of the old people in prison were fat. They looked healthy and were kept active throughout the day.

[@charlessaint7926]

My Grandmother was Japanese. Even in her 90s she was thin and active. She adhered to a strict diet, mainly eating only Japanese foods she cooked herself. Fish and rice, chicken and vegetables mainly. Exercise by going outside frequently and doing work herself, plus lots of shopping. She loved to shop. Drinks on special occasions only and no smoking. Her days are also regulated by herself.

[@truegrit7697]

I was thinking the exact same thing!

[@lienbijs1205]

Some look overweight and the guard is overweight too.

[@xxxx-qo9dh]

Being fat is predominantly a Western issue because of junkfood and laziness

[@xxxx-qo9dh]

@@lienbijs1205😂😂😂 oh dear

[@joernone]

Lived in Japan for four years and had a terrific time. From the top of Mt. Fuji to Hiroshima, to Tokyo to a hundred other places when young I thought I'd never see. And Japanese citizens are wonderful to be around, so polite and helpful. Great place to visit.

[@erikaamerica4546]

This story was extremely eye opening❤

[@Swedish__]

Going on about the people never speaking on a train, while on a train 🙃

[@margaretwade]

And earning a stern look from a male office worker.

[@donnie9455]

Disrespectfull indeed

[@lilyfeng6598]

They all in a funeral service.😢

[@sylvieroy3205]

Japan residents know , Respect it’s all about respect no entitled people. It’s sad for the lonely elderly

[@sveronih5376]

Sad when the young don't appreciate their elders.

[@antoniobabb1938]

Some do you don’t get to see them do so

[@tempgirl00711]

I thought Asian people cared for their elderly. Thought it was a cultural thing..

[@morlarav602]

they don't give a shit about their older people, instead mock them, males tend to give an ounce of thought but for females they don't give no shit

[@skateboarding118]

Westernization basically. Both parents had to work, and now there are no parents as even that is too expensive to have a child. It wasn’t this way a few decades ago.

[@skateboarding118]

Japan was the first developed Asian country by many decades compared to the rest, since the Victorian/Meiji era. So these effects are seen first in Japan. It will follow once other countries catch up, second place being South Korea. They are already shifting this way.

[@kelvinlambert4249]

Fewer Japanese people are having families and fewer grandchildren makes lonely grandparents.

[@joyanders3968]

Heart breaking.

[@kevinbautsch]

I don't know what to say, but makes my heart ache.

[@eb0526]

Same 😢

[@gailburkett9702]

Only one minute in and I have already noted (and love) that people are not walking with their nose stuck in their phone!!

[@jbre7233]

I love japan but they definitely are addicted to their phones. Maybe more so than any place I’ve ever visited.

[@happycook6737]

Many crimes are NOT reported in Japan because the victim will possibly be pressurized, ignored by police, or even thought of as the victim being guilty of inviting crime-- guilty of destroying social harmony. I lived in Japan for a while.

[@cherylmarquez2645]

Its sad that the intentionally get in trouble to go to Prison so that they have food & a place to sleep. Why no heat though?

[@useyournoodle100]

This is Southern Japan, most of the year it is very hot. In winter it gets cold but not so much that you need central heating. People sleep with warm comforters and have space heaters when needed. I was there for Christmas once and never even needed a heavy coat.

[@unicornhal]

A read the comments. I also feel a sadness for the elderly. It's a real shame when they would rather be in prison than on the outs. Then again being in prison gives you three meals a day, a bed to sleep on. ( In this case a futon.) I can't say anything about the healthcare that they get in prison but to me it's sad. A lot of those elderly are alone and they don't have anybody that will support them. Let that support be physicaly, mentally, emotionally, and financially it's sad. One thing I also feel sad about is we live in a very disposable world. Everything is disposable. One of them is family. The way I see it is Japan and other Asian culture have a very old presence or a culture that is leaned and can be traced back for centuries and/or decades. Japan and other Asian cultures learn at a very young age to respect your elders and that they can pass on knowledge in the family of what's right and wrong. Knowledge that the elderly has a purpose, and has a meaning to the family unit. We have not learned that in America. It's all disposable.

[@Sakja]

Yeh, but the reason many elderly die alone in apartments now is because many Japanese children no longer believe it to be necessary to look after their parents. This is why seniors commit crimes. They will be looked after in prison.

[@truegrit7697]

These old "criminals" are just looking for 3 Hots and a Cot, and company of course.

[@krystalturner33]

Watching him talk on the train was so aggravating.

[@vivianidelacerda9708]

Lovely posting... thank you

[@diddlybop]

The “journalist” starting the conversation by citing wildly incorrect information about China Made him immediately lose credibility. If he was just joking, its a really bad time to insert that when your audience doesn’t yet know you or have any reason to trust you yet.

[@br5448]

these guys wouldn't be able to walk an inch without having to warn and issue tickets in the USA

[@mexxicokitty]

If you look around, you'll see no trash cans..you're expected to take your garbage with you

[@eltsennestle998]

Why are you and your crew talking on the train ? Just to prove the law doesn't apply to YOU, a JOURNALIST ??

[@lynnkayee1015]

That one wasn't a law lmao It was common courtesy. Not that that isn't important, that definitely should have been respected, but silent rules are NOT the same as a law.

[@eltsennestle998]

@@lynnkayee1015 ...pedant.

[@eltsennestle998]

@@lynnkayee1015 ..ped ant.

[@chrisrodriguez7351]

This breaks my heart

[@Pemma200]

You are showing the faces of the passengers on the train without their consent. That’s very rude.

[@huntertomlin3909]

What a dystopian nightmare.

[@robinbl2]

It's a sad reality. Being locked in the prison is better than being homeless in Japan - they can secure food, shelter, and no bullying by living on the street.

[@stephenlassiter7066]

Why are you talking on the train? I think I saw a few disapproving looks.

[@catladynikki2024]

I missed my Grandma two years ago. Grandma is awesome. I think of her good days.

[@shahwirashahwira9751]

Even when a police chase a criminal also will stop at traffic light when it is red and only start chasing back when d traffic light turn green-)

[@masspence1]

Fasinating documentary.

[@yaowsers77]

But why can't they shower more and have heat? I mean, i commend the guards for helping with the care of these women, but heat and hygiene is very improvement, especially for the elderly.

[@masspence1]

Perhaps they have sponge bath items in their cells?

[@Kathryn1988]

I am grateful to see the rehabilitation programs in the prisons.

[@mattbrandon9157]

i quit watching when the rude ass kept talking on the train . it really pissed me off and i'm an american.

[@steve_anderson]

Just further proof that it's a lie that cultural diversity makes a country stronger.

[@Sakja]

If the country is already diverse, people should work together instead of having all this hate.

[@margaretwade]

@@Sakja And every citizen of every other culture hates the culture of the place they move to. Yes, what a simplistic response you had; "...people should work together..."

[@melissasmith195]

This could not be the full documentary and just cut off at the end

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

This is really sad if you think about it. In a society that allegedly respects and values their elders this isn’t very encouraging. It would be nice if there was a huge place for younger people to bring their children, like day care. They could be paid a small stipend and either live in another part of the home or one floor up which would require an elevator. But the grandparents would feel useful again , the kids could be watched and grandparents would have a place to live that wasn’t a prison. Especially when there is no heat. That’s just cruel.

[@vsanchez7158]

The prison cell looks so clean!

[@Miller4866]

Japan looks like a very beautiful place. I have so much respect for the Japanese people, even though the video was very short. 🙏

[@lsaraswati957]

How can elderly people stand working that many hours a day?

[@RERHouston]

Why are you talking on the train?

[@lindatohara6438]

I find it creepy all those humans and nobody can get to know each other? Sad !

[@sarahfoster6765]

Because he didn’t say it was illegal 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@v.m.8472]

It is perfectly acceptable to talk on the train…quietly with your friend in the next seat or your children. Filming is intrusive and the people around you are annoyed.

[@dottieland7061]

It’s just respect for other people . I have lived here for 25 years. I have never spoken on the train.😊

[@lindatohara6438]

@@dottieland7061that’s your problem.

[@gigginbig3]

All bullshit aside me and my wife were joking about how if retirement is hard on us we’ll use what’s rest of retirement fly to Japan and steal to candy bars and turn ourselves in 😂

[@hisakolisaevans9026]

I'm thinking the same thing (half seriously)

[@texmexia49]

Very sad

[@jackthereefer1]

I don't see much "diversity" in Japan.

[@mirola73]

If prison is better than your life outside the system has defeated itself and therefor useless An expensive form of 'care'.

[@McAvoy-ft5fg]

What a horrible Place.......It's like a Prison !!!!!!!!!!!

[@cristianhcm1914]

Yes, it's a better life here in Phoenix, Arizona. Where nobody respects each other and live like animals.

[@lalarebelse5985]

@@cristianhcm1914they want this all over the world watch and you will see. In 10 to 20 years you will live the same way like a cow!

[@romystumpy1197]

​@@cristianhcm1914animals are cleaner than humans

[@ronniefurbs]

Respect and take.care the elders

[@VIPVip-o4f]

Strange correlation between North Korea and Japan! Who noticed what those countries have in common?

[@CharmingAthens]

This guy is confusing social norms with "rules"

[@patriciamalone3553]

I notice there is a fence next to the metro tracks… we need that

[@theresegbat309]

So sad, 😢

[@benitamaiorano3970]

I lived in Japan for a year. Much respect for the culture ❤

[@hermionegardener3796]

This is what they'll do to the homeless and elderly in America soon, only it's not going to be so nice

[@keySkullghost]

…he’s literally talking about audacity while STILL continuing to disrespect them all, and speak on the subway. Thanks for contributing to the stereotype of foreigners.

[@mikepwnsu28]

It's a stupid rule. Suffocating communication is despicable.

[@Bod8998]

Those gloves need rules

[@jfphotography69]

The tribe no one is allowed to speak of is slowly trying to change this.

[@jsilverman8881]

That is the problem with the US, we don't teach our children any rules. It whatever makes everyone feel good, it's a free for all!

[@Tallblondesmile]

too many people

[@just8310]

Jesus Christ how could anybody live in a society like that

[@susanboyd245]

😢😢 that's so sad that these old people have to resort to stealing to go to prison so that they will have a safe place to eat and sleep 😢😢

[@GM-jv9jz]

They appear staunch and almost unemotional. I'd pass.

[@crazyforcanada]

Do you realize that it's illegal to be homeless in Japan, and homeless people are pushed out of the cities into the countryside to fend for themselves, living in shanties. Maybe the prison system isw the answer to that problem for those affected by it.

[@Nicokash392]

In China, when the snow comes in, someone would break a window just to be placed in a facility to be warm.

[@GodzHarleyGirlStudio]

And suicides are increasing.

[@Shaker626]

Same per capita rate as the US. 50% lower than neighbouring Korea.

[@gloriarangott8803]

Elderly here also fo things t o get themselves admitted to hospitals for prwtty much the same reasons 😢...THAT Ive seen for myself

[@p.g.3419]

Excuse me, but don't the elderly have a pension? If they don't have a work pension, will they have at least a minimum old-age or disability pension? Most of the female prisoners or male prisoners don't have a family? Are they completely alone?

[@elleniasiello6271]

It's not all happy ,happy ,happy in Japan. Look it up, they have their problems too.

[@deexxx220]

He makes dumb comments about China.

[@romystumpy1197]

The elderly are fit and healthy ,unlike our elderly ,

[@freeskier175]

Obviously walking with your face in your phone isnt a rule

[@ivorysteele]

The reason why seniors are going to jail is because it is better than to be isolated and starving

[@kellybryson7754]

So sad.

[@letshaveacuppa_official]

I’m a dog collector. Oh my God I love those dolls.

[@marykok7616]

They need this security detail for Europe, to stop the pickpockets

[@antoniobabb1938]

That’d be nice so that visitors can relax without worry

[@elabuterin7150]

This is not only happening in Japan. Every industrialized nation faces this problem.

[@kmdogSanDiego]

Can’t NOT recording inside Train . It’s big problem Japan has …oversea ppl doing this …. So Sad

[@jenniferrowe8148]

So very sad

[@heekyungkim8147]

Respect to senior patrols..

[@pandacub6164]

If Japan had no rules, their people and way of life will mirror that of Americans.

[@stevenPounder-p4b]

So it’s like being in the military.

[@rebeccacarter1914]

So sad!

[@gloriarangott8803]

We have them too. Here's they're called NURSING HOMES