Shigeru Ono, a 49-year-old man fresh out of prison, was growing increasingly desperate.
In the four days since his release, Ono, not his real name, had spent half of the ¥250,000 he earned from prison labor during his 10-year incarceration. He used the money on travel, housing and food, as well as treatment for chronic back pain.
Seeking help, he visited a probation office and a local administrative office, but to no avail. He was worried he would be compelled to go back to crime to make ends meet.