Crimes committed by Japan 's elderly have increased sharply , with arrests of 65-year - olds and above up from 10 % of total arrests in 2005 to 20 % 10 years later . Prisons are beginning to resemble nursing homes as older criminals ' care needs begin to dominate staff 's daily routines . Japan 's elderly are increasingly feeling alienated , with some beginning to see prison as an upgrade on their daily lives . Most Japanese firms still rely on a lifetime wage structure so once older people leave , they find it hard to reclaim their place and can end up in badly paid , low skilled jobs . Seniors in Japan often struggle to find meaningful work. With 80 % of the population to be above 65 by 2035 , the issue is unlikely to go away .
Crimes committed by Japan 's elderly have increased sharply , with arrests of 65-year - olds and above up from 10 % of total arrests in 2005 to 20 % 10 years later . Prisons are beginning to resemble nursing homes as older criminals ' care needs begin to dominate staff 's daily routines . Japan 's elderly are increasingly feeling alienated , with some beginning to see prison as an upgrade on their daily lives . Most Japanese firms still rely on a lifetime wage structure so once older people leave , they find it hard to reclaim their place and can end up in badly paid , low skilled jobs . With 80 % of the population to be above 65 by 2035 , the issue is unlikely to go away .