What killers can expect in Japanese prisons

If convicted of murdering Nicola Furlong, Richard Hinds could face up to 10 years in an adult prison, where he may be forced to sleep on tatami mat floors without heating in winter, bath communally, and be required to undertake educational programmes aimed at understanding the grief of his victim’s family.

While most juvenile offenders in Japan are assigned to juvenile training schools, a few are handled under the general penal system, according to Hiroko Goto, a specialist in juvenile law at Chiba University’s School of Law.

Although Mr Hinds was 19 at the time of the alleged crime, and will still be 19 at sentencing today, the fact that he turns 20 on Apr 1, coupled with his lack of Japanese language ability, means he is likely to be sent to a regular penal facility, said Prof Goto.