TOKYO - A sweeping change to Japan’s penal system is set to take place in June with the abolition of the dual sentencing system of prison labor (chōeki) and imprisonment without labor (kinko), which will be replaced by a unified custodial sentence known as kōkin-kei.
For the first time since Japan’s Penal Code was enacted in 1907, prison punishment will be restructured to focus not only on discipline but also on rehabilitation. As Japan contends with a persistently high recidivism rate—about half of those incarcerated have previous convictions—the government hopes the shift to kōkin-kei will offer more meaningful rehabilitation and reduce repeat offenses.
Inmates currently serving time and former prisoners alike have spoken out about the ineffectiveness of the current system. One man, convicted four times, said that performing monotonous tasks such as attaching covers to kitchen sponges for hours a day offered no real opportunity for reflection or change. "There’s no growth, no sense of remorse—only pain," he said. Another former inmate described being released with no viable job prospects, eventually returning to theft and reoffending. Critics argue that these conditions fail to address the root causes of criminal behavior. Koichi Imitsu, a professor with experience as a prison official, noted that current prison labor simply enforces routine rather than fostering reform, with little effect on reducing repeat offenses.
Perhaps the most prominent voice in the discussion is former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, who served two years and one month in prison following a conviction for violating campaign finance laws. In public lectures, Kawai described a prison life stripped of autonomy, where even a short trip to the toilet required 18 hand-raises for approval. “You live by permission,” he said, warning that such rigidity stifles self-determination and hampers reintegration into society. Kawai also highlighted the lack of emotional support during incarceration, noting he had just one psychological interview upon entry. He now advocates for the creation of specialized correctional staff trained in psychology and education—distinct from traditional guards—to truly support inmate rehabilitation.
Some institutions, like Osaka Prison, are already piloting new programs aligned with the upcoming reform. With support from mental health professionals and social workers, they have launched initiatives targeting inmates with developmental disabilities to facilitate reintegration. However, scaling such efforts across Japan’s roughly 40,000 inmates presents a major logistical and cultural challenge. Experts and former officials agree that while the shift to kōkin-kei is a step in the right direction, transforming Japan’s prisons from punishment-centered facilities into centers of education and correction will require time, resources, and a fundamental shift in institutional thinking.
Source: KTV NEWS
