Japan, the country with the world’s oldest population, is facing a silent but alarming crisis: the growing lonely deaths and isolation of the elderly. According to a recent white paper published by the government, more and more Japanese aged 65 and over, representing 29.1% of the population, live alone and suffer from a lack of social connections. But another disturbing phenomenon is intensifying: these same elderly people, often driven by poverty and loneliness, are deliberately choosing to commit petty crimes in order to be incarcerated. This unusual choice, in addition to that of kodokushi (solitary deaths), highlights deep-seated social problems in a country plagued by a rapidly ageing population and an economic crisis affecting senior citizens.
This disturbing phenomenon has a name: “kodokushi”, or solitary death. It refers to the death of a single person, whose body is not discovered until long after his or her death. It’s a reality that highlights the cracks in Japan’s social fabric, which used to be reinforced by strong community ties.
The soaring number of lone deaths: a worrying phenomenon
In 2024, almost 40,000 people died alone in their own homes in Japan, with around 4,000 bodies discovered more than a month after death and 130 found after a year or more. These figures underline the scale of the problem, especially among the elderly. The national police force reports that over 70% of solitary deaths involve individuals aged 65 and over.
Surveys reveal that 48.7% of senior citizens consider the possibility of dying alone to be “very real” or “rather real”. Those living alone are particularly vulnerable: only 38.9% say they talk to someone on a daily basis, compared with 80.9% of seniors living with others.
Demographic projections indicate that by 2050, 10.8 million seniors will be living alone, an increase of 47% compared to 2020. At the same time, single-person households will account for 44.3% of Japanese households. This increase is attributed to changing family structures and a decline in marriages and births.
Kodokushi or lonely deaths : the tragic reality of death in isolation
The term “kodokushi” refers to those lonely deaths that often go unnoticed. In the 1990s, the economic crisis and job instability left many Japanese without a family or social safety net. Today, local initiatives such as volunteer patrols and motion sensors in apartments are trying to mitigate the phenomenon, but solitary deaths persist.
Some communities, such as the Tokiwadaira residential complex near Tokyo, have set up support programs for the elderly japanese. These initiatives include helplines, social activities and monitoring systems to check on the well-being of residents. Although these efforts have reduced the number of prolonged lonely deaths, they remain insufficient in the face of the scale of the problem.
Okinawa : an inspiring model of happy longevity
Experts suggest that other parts of Japan should take inspiration from the culture of Okinawa, where community relations are strengthened by regular social events. Senior citizens in Okinawa regularly take part in social events and benefit from the spirit of “moai”, a system of mutual help between neighbors.
This approach could play a key role in countering loneliness and promoting a more fulfilling old age.
The government’s role in combating isolation and lonely deaths
In 2023, the Japanese government set up a group of experts to study the phenomenon of lonely deaths and propose appropriate policies. Among the measures envisaged are awareness-raising campaigns and the development of community support networks for elderly people living alone.
Community centers such as the Iki Iki Drop-in Centre offer a socializing space for isolated seniors. Here, residents can share a coffee and a chat, breaking their isolation. These local efforts, while laudable, are not enough to stem a national trend fuelled by profound demographic changes.
The lonely deaths crisis mirrors the social and economic challenges facing Japan. With an ageing population, it is crucial to rethink solidarity and social inclusion policies. Encouraging intergenerational links and offering innovative solutions could help build a future where everyone can age in dignity and companionship.
Prison: a way out of kodokushi for lonely Japanese seniors
In Japan, “gray crime”, or crime committed by an elderly person, is an important phenomenon. In fact, every year, it is on the increase. According to a Japanese police report on delinquency, 20% of crimes in Japan are committed by senior citizens. These crimes enable isolated seniors to avoid the devastating phenomenon of lonely deaths, since they are never alone in prison.
Poverty among Japanese pensioners: an alarming reality
Despite Japan’s prosperous image, almost 20% of people aged 65 and over live below the poverty line, well above the OECD average (14.2%). With basic pensions often not exceeding 800 euros, these seniors struggle to support themselves in cities like Tokyo, among the most expensive in the world. This precarious situation leads some to see prison as a refuge offering a roof over their heads, three meals a day and free medical care, sparing them the lonely deaths from which they often cannot escape.
Why do Japanese senior citizens commit crimes?
According to the police, senior offenders have several motivations:
- financial difficulties: many elderly people are in a precarious situation
- social difficulties: on the one hand, they feel lonely and isolated because of their age; theft is therefore a way of getting noticed; on the other hand, senior ex-convicts are faced with a complicated situation when looking for a new job or expecting support from their loved ones.
- demographic difficulties: Japan’s population is declining and ageing at an ever-faster rate, while life expectancy is increasing. The Australian Financial Review explains: “The increase in the number of retirees committing crimes would therefore be mechanically linked to this fact”.
- economic difficulties: some elderly people prefer a life behind bars, subsidized by the government, to a life in isolation on the outside.
Initiatives still insufficient
Faced with this crisis, Japan is trying to implement solutions. Rehabilitation programs, housing subsidies and community support have been developed, but they are struggling to curb recidivism, which reaches 60% within two years of release. Once out, these senior citizens often find themselves alone and destitute, which drives them back to prison.
South Korea: senior citizens also commit crimes voluntarily
Like many other Asian countries, South Korea is faced with a rapidly ageing population, a situation that does not sit well with South Koreans as the financial burden threatens to increase considerably in the years to come. As a result, many pensioners voluntarily commit crimes with the aim of going to prison, where they will be housed, clothed, cared for and fed. Once released, they re-offend.
According to the Ministry of Justice, this is the first time that the number of prisoners over 60 has exceeded the total number of inmates by 10%.
“People over sixty make up 19.2% of the population, which increases the number of elderly prisoners,” a Ministry of Justice representative told reporters. He also explained that many pensioners were being put in prison deliberately in order to “make ends meet”; moreover, pensioners would be better off in prison than on the loose, as they would be doing easier jobs there: gluing envelopes and packages, for example.
So, behind bars, these seniors find not a punishment, but a refuge from a freedom that has become too difficult to bear.
Published by the Editorial Staff on