„Zweimal Bewährung gewährt, aber jedes Mal wieder ins Gefängnis zurückgebracht: ‚Ich habe die Familien der Opfer verraten‘ – lebenslanger Insasse, der für Geld einen Raubmord beging und sein Wunsch nach Besserung“

The man committed his crime in the 1970s when, for the purpose of stealing valuables, he broke into a house and strangled a female college student. He did this to pay off gambling debts. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for robbery-murder and attempted robbery-rape. He describes his crime as follows: “It was a monstrous incident. I committed the lowest of acts as a human being.”

After serving about 25 years in prison, he was granted parole. However, within a month, he was sent back to prison. Thirteen years later, he was granted parole again and released, but due to further crimes he committed, he is now incarcerated in Tokushima Prison.

A journalist interviewed three life sentence inmates at Tokushima Prison. Two articles have been published so far: one about a man serving a 40-year sentence at the prison, and another about a former juvenile murderer. The third inmate, in his 70s, is serving a life sentence and has experienced parole twice. The article explores his “desire to reform.”

A Crime That Took a Life and a Future: Paroled After 25 Years

In August, inmate Shigeru Tanaka (a pseudonym), in his 70s, spoke up during an interview. “In three days, it will be the victim’s death anniversary,” he said. The crime occurred when Tanaka was in his 20s. After strangling the woman, he confessed to the crime due to guilt and was arrested.

He had no prior connection to the woman and killed her in a random act, all for money. The woman’s dream had been to become a schoolteacher. “I had completely lost my mind. I closed her future,” Tanaka said. He was sentenced to life imprisonment and was placed in a prison in Western Japan. After about 20 years, he received a letter from the victim’s mother in response to a letter Tanaka had written. It simply read, “Please become a respectable member of society.” At that time, the average prison sentences were shorter, and Tanaka was paroled after serving around 25 years.

Breaking Rules During Parole, Leading Back to Prison

Even after being granted parole, those sentenced to life imprisonment are subject to “supervision” for life. They are required to have regular meetings with parole officers and must adhere to specific conditions. If these conditions are violated, they can be returned to prison.

Tanaka violated the rules shortly after his release. He stayed out overnight without permission and also resumed gambling. He was caught, and just 23 days after his release, he was sent back to another prison in Western Japan. He served 13 more years but was eventually paroled again.

Worked and Earned Income, But…

After his second release, Tanaka worked as a construction worker, earning around 300,000 yen a month. However, he suffered a stroke and became partially paralyzed, making it difficult to continue working in construction. He switched jobs and worked as a building cleaner, earning about 60,000 to 70,000 yen per month. He also received welfare benefits, but after an issue with a social worker, his benefits were canceled.

Faced with financial difficulties, Tanaka committed a theft. “I knew I shouldn’t do it. It was like an old habit, something I did because I was in trouble,” he admitted. After his second release, he committed the crime and was sent back to Tokushima Prison less than three years later.

“I Betrayed the Victim’s Family’s Wish for Me to Become a Respectable Person”

Tanaka, who has now served about 40 years across three prisons, reflected on his family life. He was raised by his father and grandparents. His father was an alcoholic who would become violent when drunk. Disgusted by his father’s behavior, Tanaka left home after graduating from middle school. His father died about 30 years ago. Tanaka reconnected with his mother in his early 20s before committing the robbery-murder, but later, she fell ill and was hospitalized. “She probably passed away,” he speculated. Communication with his family was cut off, and when he was paroled, his sponsor was a rehabilitation organization that assists ex-convicts.

It’s rare for someone serving a life sentence to be granted parole twice, and the possibility of a third parole is unclear. When asked how he plans to live from now on, Tanaka replied, “I think I’ll die in prison. It’s the price I have to pay for my terrible mistake. I betrayed the victims’ families’ hope for me to become a respectable person, and I deserve this punishment.”

Having spent more than half of his life in prison, when asked if he wanted to start over, Tanaka tearfully responded, “Yes.” He continued, “I’ve been given a life close to death, and I’m still alive. I hold a faint hope of being able to start over.”

10 Inmates Serving More Than 50 Years in Prison

According to the Ministry of Justice, as of December 2022, there were 1,688 life-sentence inmates in Japan. Of these, 66 inmates had served 40 to 50 years, and 10 had served more than 50 years. In 2022, 41 inmates died, and the average length of imprisonment for those granted parole was 45 years and 3 months.