Many of us are fascinated by cinematic portrayals of prison escapes, where the hero faces immense security challenges to gain freedom. While some filmmakers base their stories on real events, they often add fictional elements to heighten the drama. However, there’s a true story so extraordinary that it requires no embellishment. This story revolves around Yoshi Shiratori, a Japanese man who managed to escape from prison four times, leaving Japanese authorities in utter disbelief and earning him the moniker “The Man Who Could Not Be Contained.”

The First Escape

Yoshi Shiratori began his life as a fisherman in Russia before moving to Japan to work as a chef. However, his career as a chef did not last, and he continued to fail in various jobs. After a series of unsuccessful endeavors, he became a poker player and a petty thief. In 1936, he was arrested for theft and placed in the notorious Omori Prison, where life was unbearable. Shiratori meticulously planned his escape by observing the guards’ routines for months. He noticed that they took a fifteen-minute break after each patrol. Seizing the opportunity, Shiratori inserted a metal wire into the lock of his cell door, causing it to open. This was just the beginning of his escape plan, as he still faced numerous obstacles. After bypassing the main security gate, Shiratori had completed 50% of his escape plan. The remaining challenge was to get out of the prison’s vicinity to secure his freedom, which was the focus of a massive search operation.

During Shiratori’s escape, the guards, during their routine check at 5:45 AM, found what they believed to be his sleeping body. It turned out to be a mere decoy made from broken tiles. Shiratori’s true escape was only discovered the next day when the alarm was raised, but he had already vanished without a trace.

The Second Escape

This was just the beginning for Shiratori. After three days of his initial escape, he was arrested again for attempting to steal from a hospital and was sentenced to life imprisonment, adding to his previous escape attempt. This harsh sentence devastated him as he faced a lifetime apart from his simple family, including his wife and daughter. Shiratori felt immense disappointment, realizing that his previous escape had been in vain and that his freedom had been fleeting.

After serving six years in Omori Prison, Shiratori was transferred to the highly secure Akita Prison in 1942, which was used as a war-time detention center. The prison was infamous for its copper-walled cells and high ceilings, with no sunlight reaching them. The new guards, aware of his previous escape attempts, subjected him to brutal treatment, ensuring he would never escape again. Despite the harsh conditions, one of the guards, Kobayashi, treated Shiratori with compassion.

Enduring extreme torture, Shiratori decided to escape once again. During a stormy night, a guard found Shiratori’s cell empty except for the manacles and an orderly bed. It was a mysterious escape, with Shiratori managing to remove his restraints, climb the smooth copper walls, and pry open a wooden window frame that the guards had overlooked. He chose a stormy day for his final escape to avoid detection and successfully vanished, eluding capture.

The Third Escape

Shiratori’s escape from the highly secure Abashiri Prison in 1943 was a feat of resilience. Abashiri was infamous for its inhumane conditions, with freezing temperatures and minimal facilities. Shiratori, imprisoned with inadequate summer clothing in sub-zero temperatures, was subjected to severe conditions and mockery from guards. He vowed to escape, and after an extended period of inactivity, he managed to dig a tunnel beneath his cell floor. Using a bowl of soup to corrode his handcuffs and wriggling through a tight gap in the door, he managed to escape. Despite the extreme cold and dangers from wildlife, Shiratori survived in the wilderness, adapting to harsh conditions and living off available food sources. He was determined to reunite with his family, although he knew they would be under constant surveillance.

After spending two years in isolation, Shiratori descended to a nearby village only to learn about Japan’s defeat in World War II and the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He decided to abandon his past life and moved south to Sapporo. During his journey, he encountered a farmer and, after a conflict, killed him in self-defense. Shiratori was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death in 1947, eventually being sent to Sapporo Prison.

The Fourth Escape

In Sapporo Prison, Shiratori was under constant surveillance to prevent another escape. His cell was reinforced with new ceilings and bars, and the window was made too small for him to pass through. Despite aging and dwindling chances of escape, Shiratori managed to outwit his guards. He dug a tunnel beneath his cell, which went unnoticed due to the guards’ focus on the ceiling and window. Using a blanket and manacles to create a convincing illusion of his presence, he escaped yet again. During his escape, he met a police officer who offered him a cigarette, leading to a conversation where Shiratori revealed his identity.

After his identity was exposed, Shiratori was re-arrested in 1948. This time, the judicial system showed empathy, leading to his eventual acquittal of murder charges. Shiratori was sentenced to 20 years in prison, where he was treated better. He was released early in 1961 for good behavior and returned to Omori, where he reunited with his surviving daughter. He passed away in 1979 at the age of 71 after a life marked by incredible escapes.