An 18-year-old inmate was found Wednesday afternoon in Chiba Prefecture four hours after escaping from a reformatory in Fuchu, western Tokyo, the Justice Ministry said.
The inmate, whose name is being withheld because he is a minor, was taken into custody shortly after 6 p.m. after escaping from the Kanto Medical Juvenile Training School at around 2:10 p.m. by climbing over a fence.
The escape took place as he was moving to a gym for exercise, the ministry said, adding he is being held at the facility for committing robbery and attempted robbery.
The incident followed an escape Tuesday by a 19-year-old man detained for theft from a reformatory in Bungo-Ono, Oita Prefecture. He was found hiding in a nearby warehouse later in the day.
He fled over a fence while he and other detainees were lining up outside for exercises.