【変わる刑務所】密着で見えた“挑戦”と“模索”の毎日「 拘禁刑」導入で “懲らしめ”から“更生”の場所へ―社会復帰を見据えた「動機付け」による取り組み＜北海道・札幌刑務所＞

The sentence was "imprisonment for ● years." This "imprisonment with hard labor" sentence, often heard in the news, changed to "detention sentence" in June 2025. We covered a site that is more conscious of the rehabilitation of those who have committed crimes. Baskets full of onions were selling one after another. On October 5th, there was a long line of people seeking autumn vegetables at Sapporo Prison in Higashi Ward, Sapporo City. It wasn't just vegetables that were being sold. Furniture and leather goods…these leather shoes were priced at a reasonable 2900 yen. "Pumpkins and green onions," "Cheaper than buying them in a store." "(Q: Can you see the effort put into the products?) Yes, yes, they're amazing, so beautiful." (All from visitors) "Through this annual event, we want to continue to create a path of coexistence together with everyone." (One-day prison warden Masako Ishii) This was the Sapporo Prison Correctional Exhibition, where Ms. Ishii served as one-day prison warden. Products made in prisons across Japan, including Abashiri and Hakodate, were sold. Sapporo Prison, with 782 inmates (as of the end of September 2025), has the largest number of inmates in Hokkaido. Prison work begins in the morning. After breakfast, inmates head to the workshop. After physical examinations, they begin with exercises. Here, leather goods are made. Using a single piece of leather, they create wallets, pen cases, shoes, and more. New inmates are accompanied by a work specialist officer who checks how to use the equipment. Inmates are divided into several groups, with group leaders overseeing the work process. Inmates can also be seen communicating with each other while working. This is a male inmate serving as a group leader. "A single piece of leather can be used to make a product, but it goes through the processes of over a dozen people before one product is completed. The way everyone approaches their work throughout the process, and the way they put their hearts into making the best possible product while considering the buyer—there's a real joy in that kind of work," (70s inmate group leader). Checking the quality of the products is also part of the work specialist's job. This officer has been in charge of the leather factory for three years. "I check if the leather is suitable and verify the stitching of things like zippers," (Work Specialist). Furthermore, they must also communicate with companies that have ordered products and secure materials. "We have to place the orders (for materials), so we order based on predictions of future shortages," (Work Specialist). The work specialist position is a specialized job within the prison staff that requires specific qualifications. They find joy in seeing the inmates grow through their work. "When I told the inmates that customers had praised their products, even the usually unfriendly inmates smiled. Seeing that makes me feel the meaning of their work." (Work specialist in charge of the leather factory) This specialist, with 23 years of experience, interacts with inmates with a focus on rehabilitation. "I treat the inmates with friendliness, but I must never become too familiar. I must recognize that they are human beings. Prison work is extremely beneficial for their improvement, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society." (Veteran work specialist) Prisons are currently undergoing a period of change. From June 2025, "imprisonment" was introduced, replacing imprisonment with hard labor and imprisonment without hard labor. Institutional efforts are also shifting from punishing inmates to aiming for their rehabilitation. This is an initiative called "motivation" that began in conjunction with this change. Inmates consider the meaning of their work and acquire the necessary skills with a view to reintegrating into society. "The idea that 'repeating the same work is boring' can be reframed as training to cultivate concentration and perseverance." The aim is to improve behavior and rehabilitation by encouraging inmates to think about the meaning behind their work. An inmate serving as a work group leader. He feels that the atmosphere in the prison is changing. "It used to be terrible. People would use rude language like 'hey' and 'you,' and the way they walked like soldiers is gone now," (Inmate group leader). How will they live in society when they eventually return? "I think it's training to not give up halfway through, a kind of mental preparation. It's a way to help them reintegrate into society," (Work specialist in charge of the leather factory). Even as the prison changes, the daily challenges and explorations remain unchanged.