Elderly crime surging in fast-aging Japan

Round up all the elderly at gun-point and move them to Okinawa. Force their families to travel there and spend money while visiting. That would ensure that the island survives and that the eldrly can be kept under control. Also the cheaper living will save the country money.

strong currency does not mean strong nation. 48,600 elderly criminals, 33,000 suicides, 33,000 children without health insurance...How is Aso going to make this nation 'cheerful and strong'? At the moment, land of lotus is becoming land of looters. still 'shouganai'?

Whew! lucky I didn't cache in my gaijin passport. Gotta get out before the elderly hit 40%. J-government cannot/will not plan anything that involved social security--is totally ineffectual. This society is on a fast spiral down-- Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world. Even Yeats could probably never imagine an anarchy of the aged -- what a nightmare to behold. Driving is already a game of chance with all the orange/yellow placards on cars. With the young getting poorer and the rich getting more plentiful, it's gonna explode before long. Sayonara gents.

Inevitable. The choice for many is crime or suicide. Society's breakdown is upon us.

This reminds me of the old Monty Python skit of the grannies operating a motorcycle gang. I guess they could get together here and name it "The Blue Hair and No Hair" - a coed gang.

I know someone who frequently shoplifted. It's definitely a symptom of a deeper problem... a feeling of lack, insecurity (emotional and physical), and a feeling of being able to do anything to change ones life. Until these deeper rooted problems are solved, crime among the elderly will continue. Unfortunately, many elderly people do not work and spend their time thinking about (focusing on) the lack in their lives. If they find some meaning and purpose in their lives, if they find a way to contribute to other people (start thinking about other people instead of themselves) they will be rewarded financially and in many other ways. By contributing this scarcity mentality will disappear from their lives. By giving so much will come back into their lives. That's the way life works. Once you get it your whole life will change forever.

Sad for an eldery person to think crime is the only way. If people in the west only knew the absolute fallacy of the "old people are really respected in Japan" myth.

If old people felt respect, they wouldn't need to steal for money or attention.

It would seem that a smart politican would think of some social program that doesn't cost anything, allows old folks to join and participate in something that would actually help out the community in some way, making them feel needed and appreciated, AND be a net benefit to people of all ages.

Is that really asking too much?

Crime is just one part of the problem. How often do you see an oldie pushing in line to get onto the train. What hope do the youngsters have when they see such "everyone else can get stuffed" kind of behaviour.

old people wants to go to prison nowadays because they have free nursing care, free board and lodging, can earn money while doing forced labors, able to meet new friends and except for limited movement they don't have to worry about basic necessities, no taxes, and best, they are not lonely. The gov't has long neglected the care for its people. Charity begins at home as the adage says but in Japan, the gov't is willing to give Billions of DOllars to support the UN rather than doing something for its country.

This is a view on how peoples lives end up here, they waste their working yrs hanging around the office wasting their life, now the generations known for their savings arent cutting it well after work & since they had no life to speak of for so many years they now no longer now how to lead one in their twilight years.

If these old folks are in dire straits & it seems many are than that means its only worse for those coming up in age from here on in. Hardly news I know but sad to see whats so obvious is now becoming hard reality

Jackdorff makes a good point about the manners of the elderly. They push in line for the trains, they never apologize when they bump into people, they ride their bicycles on the wrong side of the road, and they cross the street anytime they please, signals and traffic be damned.

Very sad. Being a crim. is bad enough but being a crim and a codger is doubly sad. Still, this is in keeping with my overall impression of the Japanese themselves, in as much as they are a remarkable but lonely people.

The malaise of the 21'st Century which is everywhere: loneliness. Empty, utterly worthless platitudes from politicians and silly campaigns offered as some sort of solace. And now the breakdown of family ties and deep sense of obligation, together with social mores which for centuries was the glue that held it all together. All it seems, are now rapidly eroding.

****If those elderly misdemeanorites were capable of caring for others they probably would not need to turn to crime.

No different than an invalid taking care of an invalid.

We should apply the standard Japanese solutions to the increasing rate of crimes by the elderly...fingerprint them, put surveillance cameras where they congregate, and put a curfew on anyone over 65. If that doesn't work, then they can consider reducing the number of people that they allow to turn 65 in Japan. This is the program they are using for foreigners, so it should work for the elderly too.

They push in line for the trains, they never apologize when they bump into people,

I don't know whether the old folks I see are homeless or not, but they are ALWAYS sitting on the seats at the station platform, gossiping, laughing out loud, drinking, and smoking. New waiting rooms have just been installed at the stations along the line I use, and these folks are just going to spend the whole day in these rooms in the winter. These rooms and seats should be for passengers.

Don't blame elderly but your lawmakers. If they don't look after them, and pay them sufficient pension, what else they can do to survive. Aged people are neglected all over the world, when you stop working and educate yourself you are ready to die.

"Most of the elderly offenders arrested for theft received pensions, while about 7% were on welfare" !?!?! Isn't a pension a form of welfare? I don't understand.

I first came to Japan before the bubble burst. Everyone had money back then. I always wondered what Japanese would be like without money. Now we are beginning to see.

Seeing elderly who steal, commit crimes and wander around as homeless is incredibly sad.

I am sure there is a good solution though.

Isn't a pension a form of welfare? I don't understand.

Of course it isn't. If you go to the bank and draw money out of your account, is the bank giving you welfare? No, you're simply taking out what you've paid in in the past. Same with a pension. You don't get one unless you've paid your share of premiums. People who haven't, and who therefore don't have a pension and have nothing to live on, get welfare.

Good thing some of these old folks are not randomly stabbing people hoping the police would take care of them.

now I have to watch out for those "elderly" who are always "bumping" into me!? I just thought it was from being unstable on their feet....

This people want attention. Engaging in crimes to get attention is an act of desperation.

I agree with Mikihouse 100%. It's plain and simple.

How did so manny eldery foreigners get in Japan?

"Same with a pension. You don't get one unless you've paid your share of premiums."

Uhum... someone hasn't been paying attention. Seems you've forgotten about the 20 million pension payments gone missing !

Well just following the trend of an aging populace as a whole but that doesn't make as good a news story does it?

Oh no! watch out for grandma on the wheel chair or grandpa on the walker. I know this isn't a joke but the title of these articles sometimes you can't help it.

I think this is the only country in the world that can say this. However, after all the articles I have read on JT it sure looks liek it.

Whats a "crime"? Seems to me most of these senior crimes are stuff like the shoplifting they report here on the news every day. Things like stealing some 400 Yen bento because they are hungry. Pretty pathetic and sad, but not a crimewave I am going to worry about.