The story revolves around a man who was wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in Japan. Despite being subjected to torture and mistreatment, he managed to escape from prison four times, each time using his intelligence and resourcefulness to evade capture. His escapes were often facilitated by the lax security measures in place, and he was able to take advantage of these weaknesses to break free. However, after his fourth escape, he was eventually caught and sentenced to death.
In a surprising turn of events, his sentence was commuted to 20 years after it was revealed that the killing he was accused of was in self-defense. He was transferred to a prison in Tokyo, where he was treated with respect and kindness by the guards. He served out the remainder of his sentence without incident and was eventually released from prison, never to return.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The person in the story was convicted of a crime he did not commit.
2. He was forced and tortured to confess to a murder he had not even heard of.
3. He resisted at first, but eventually told the authorities what they wanted to hear to avoid further beatings.
4. He was sentenced to life in prison for escaping.
5. During World War II, Japan moved many prisoners from one place to another.
6. The person in the story was sent to a prison where the concept of cold was extreme.
7. He was frustrated and angry, and challenged the guards whenever he could.
8. He took off his handcuffs in front of the guards to let them know he would escape again.
9. He escaped from the prison by climbing a smooth wall with his bare feet and hands.
10. He hid in the mountains for two days before making his way to Tokyo.
11. He tried to steal material from a hospital, but was caught and put back in prison.
12. He was sentenced to death for killing a farmer during a fight over tomatoes.
13. He was sent to the Sapporo prison, where the cell was inspected and checked to prevent escape.
14. He pretended to be depressed to gain more time to plan his escape.
15. He escaped from the prison by digging a hole in the wooden floor.
16. He returned to prison a year later, voluntarily, after being offered a cigarette by a police officer.
17. His luck changed, and the death penalty was taken away when it was realized that the killing was in self-defense.
18. He was transferred to Tokyo, where he was treated well by the guards and served his sentence without causing any problems.
Note: Some of the facts mentioned are not verified and are part of the narrative, but I have tried to stick to the most objective and verifiable information.