Japan, known for its robust aging population, was ranked the healthiest country to age in by the National Center for Health Statistics in December. Okinawa, Japan, is also considered a blue zone, home to some of the world’s longest-living and happiest communities. But, according to a new report from CNN, many of those older adults are struggling.
Japan’s largest women’s prison has become home to a growing number of seniors. CNN reported the number of prisoners aged 65 or older nearly quadrupled from 2003 to 2022. Feeling neglected financially and socially, in the wake of a global loneliness epidemic, many older Japanese women are turning to imprisonment to find community and support.
