Abstract
The purpose of this study is to explore the process of breaking down the unwritten code of silence among offenders' families in Japan, and to reveal the management of stigma and its social mechanisms. In the literature of offenders' families, there is lack of understanding as a result of untold experiences. To understand the silence of offenders' families in Japan, semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven family members. Hie findings are as follows. Interview participants tell their experiences by assuming a role distance from the self as families of offenders through interaction with heterogeneous others and others who are not themselves family members of offenders. As they recognize the normalcy within the self through relationships with others who are not family members of offenders themselves, they take a role distance. They break down the state of silence through acceptance of stigma as a part of their identity as "families of offenders." They are then able to behave as offenders' families. Therefore, the relationships with others who are not families of offenders themselves, influences the acceptance of stigma by the kin of offenders.
