Nara Prefecture has established a pioneering initiative to support former prison inmates as they reintegrate into society, launching a fully funded foundation that provides both job training and housing.
The effort — the first of its kind in Japan, according to the Justice Ministry — is also helping to address local labor shortages in agriculture and forestry.
Kagayaki Home was created in 2020 with 100% funding from the prefectural government. Since then, it has offered vocational training and subsidized housing for up to three years to former inmates, employing nine individuals to date.
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