It has been revealed that the Ministry of Justice plans to close Tochigi Prison, the largest women’s jail in Japan in April 2028.
According to Justice Ministry, Tochigi Prison will cease operating on March 31 2028, with the facility closing the following day on April 1st. There are currently five women’s prisons in Japan, and this will be the first time since records began in 1976 that a women’s prison has been abolished.
The abolition is based on the nation’s financial circumstances and the aging of facilities, with the aim of enhancing organizational efficiency and reducing the burden on staff.
The destination for the inmates’ transfer and the utilisation of the site remain undecided. However, it is stated that transfers will proceed in sequence as soon as the destination is determined.
The number of inmates in penal institutions is declining nationwide. At Tochigi Prison, the occupancy rate exceeded 100% at the end of 2015 relative to its capacity of 655 inmates, but had fallen to approximately 71% by the end of 2024.
The facility’s staff commented, ‘We will continue to work towards the rehabilitation and improvement of inmates, and proceed with preparations for a smooth closure’.
