"There Was No Secret, I Just Walked"... Japan's Oldest Person Ends a Life of 115 Years

Japan's Ministry of Health Reports "Death on August 27"

Born in 1911, Passed Away at 115 Years and 91 Days Old

She Lived with Major Events Like the Olympics as Her Motive

The woman who had been the oldest living person in Japan has passed away at the age of 115.

Shigeko Kagawa, who was registered as Japan's oldest person at 114 years old last year. Yamato Koriyama City, Nara Prefecture, Japan

On August 31, Yonhap News, citing Kyodo News and other sources, reported that "Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that Shigeko Kagawa, a resident of Yamato Koriyama City in Nara Prefecture, died on August 27." Born on May 28, 1911, Kagawa was 115 years and 91 days old at the time of her death. She had been registered as Japan's oldest person at the end of July last year. With her passing, the new oldest person in Japan is Fuyo Kishimoto, a resident of Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Kishimoto was born on December 20, 1911, and is 114 years old.

Kagawa graduated from Osaka Women's Medical College (now Kansai Medical University) in 1934. Starting in April of the same year, she worked for about three years in the obstetrics & gynecology and internal medicine departments at Osaka City Minami Municipal Hospital before opening her own clinic in present-day Yamato Koriyama City in 1937. As an obstetrician & gynecologist and internist, she was dedicated to cholera treatment and remained involved in regional healthcare until the age of 86.

She also witnessed historic moments. In 1970, she was in charge of emergency care at the Osaka Expo, remaining onsite for the duration of the event. During the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay, she was the oldest torchbearer. At the age of 109, she carried the torch in her segment of Yamato Koriyama City while in a wheelchair. She later said, "I didn't expect everyone to cheer for me. I am happy." According to her family, she set her sights on major events such as the Tokyo Olympics and the Osaka-Kansai Expo as motivation throughout her life.

Her secret to longevity was waking up at set times, eating small portions without skipping any of the three daily meals. Three times a week, she went to a daytime care center, practiced calligraphy, used a tablet, and, owing to good eyesight, watched TV or read the newspaper at home. Shortly after registering as the oldest person last year, she announced through the city authorities, "There's nothing special that I do," and added, "When I worked in obstetrics & gynecology, I often did house calls, walking late at night and even on days off. That has laid the foundation for my current health." She also commented, "I used to walk wearing geta (Japanese wooden clogs) up towards Yatasan, so my legs are strong," and emphasized, "As long as I stay healthy every day, that's enough."

She also looked back on her days as a doctor, saying, "When I worked, I was called when pregnant women were unwell, had difficult labor, or faced challenging cases. I helped everyone, and their happiness, I believe, has helped me live a long life." Last year, Kiyoshi Ueda, Mayor of Yamato Koriyama, stated, "As an obstetrician & gynecologist, she saved many lives. That may well be the key to becoming the oldest person in Japan."

Meanwhile, the number of centenarians in Japan has increased for 55 consecutive years. According to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, as of September last year, there were 99,763 people over 100 years old, an increase of 4,644 from the previous year, putting the total close to 100,000. Since the survey began in 1963, when there were 153, the number surpassed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 90,000 in 2022. Of the 99,763 centenarians, 87,784 were women (88%), and 11,979 were men.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.