The Justice Ministry announced Tuesday that it plans to expand cooperation with major outdoor clothing and equipment producer Montbell, with inmates at prisons across Japan, to make handicrafts designed by the company as part of the ministry's correctional efforts.
The cooperation agreement was signed in June 2019, but due to the high popularity of the products and positive results of the correctional program, both parties have decided to expand the initiative and involve inmates at more prisons.
Inmates at Abashiri Prison in Hokkaido have already been producing two types of tenugui hand towels — dyed Japanese cotton towels often given as gifts — and seven types of coasters, which are decorated with local animals such as deer and foxes and have a nature theme.
The Osaka-based company said they were planning to continue promoting various initiatives in cooperation with the Justice Ministry. The aim is to use their respective resources to help resolve issues in the region where the prison is located.
The products are sold through the company’s online shop and at some Montbell stores across the country. Given that the products are not mass-produced, the company said that they may often run out of stock.
On Monday, Montbell Chairman Isamu Tatsuno visited the ministry to promote the products made in collaboration with Abashiri Prison.
Justice Minister Yoshihisa Furukawa praised the program as "a valuable initiative to motivate inmates."
Information from Kyodo added
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