Shigeko Kagawa, 114, Becomes Japan's Oldest Person

Tokyo, August 4 (AP) — Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old retired physician from Nara Prefecture, has become Japan's oldest living person, following the passing of 114-year-old Miyoko Hiroyasu. This has been confirmed by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Kagawa, an emblem of Japan's exceptional longevity, graduated from medical school prior to World War II. She served in a hospital in Osaka during the war before managing her family's clinic as an obstetrician and gynecologist. She retired at the age of 86.

At the age of 109, Kagawa became one of the oldest individuals to participate as a torchbearer in Olympic history, during the Tokyo 2021 torch relay.

"I don't have any," Kagawa stated to TOS News in 2023 when inquired about the secret to her longevity. “I just play every day. My energy is my greatest asset. I go where I want, eat what I want, and do what I want. I'm free and independent.”

Her predecessor, Hiroyasu, also led a notably active life. Born in 1911, she pursued art studies in Tokyo, taught in Hiroshima Prefecture, and raised three children.

She passed away in a nursing home in Oita Prefecture, spending her days reading newspapers, sketching, and playing card games.

"I am grateful to be healthy," Hiroyasu expressed on her 113th birthday.

Japan, despite an overall population decline, continues to see growth in its elderly population. As of September 1, 2024, a record 36 million people — 29 percent of the population — were aged 65 or older, marking the highest proportion of seniors worldwide. Those aged 80 and above now constitute 10 percent of the populace, as per the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.

The country is home to 95,119 centenarians, according to the latest records. (AP) RD RD

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