Ammon News - An 81-year-old woman in Japan, named Akiyo, has not only amused people with her antics but also highlighted the country's problem of an ageing population. How?

Akiyo, 81, commits crimes on purpose so that she can stay in jail to beat loneliness and have stability in life.

Akiyo first committed the crime of stealing food when she was in her 60s. However, since she could not survive living on a meagre pension and was also abandoned by her son, she decided to deliberately repeat the offence to go to jail, reported the South China Morning Post.

Reflecting on her crime and what made her do so, Akiyo said, "I made a poor decision and shoplifted, thinking it would be a minor issue. If I had been financially stable and had a comfortable lifestyle, I definitely would not have done it.”

The report suggested that Akiyo earlier lived with her son, who is 43 years old. However, after being abandoned by her and lacking social support, she was lonely and in despair. “I felt like I did not care what happened anymore. I thought, ‘There is no point in me living,’ and ‘I just want to die,’” she shared.

Akiyo was released from prison in October 2024, but she now feared shame for her mistakes. “I am afraid of how he (her son) might perceive me. Being alone is a very difficult thing, and I feel ashamed that I ended up in this situation. I really feel that if I had a stronger will, I could have led a different life, but I am too old to do anything about it now,” Akiyo said.