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Jokichi Ikarashi
Jokichi Ikarashi
Jokichi Ikarashi on 12 June 2013, aged 111.
Birth: 26 January 1902
Sanjo City, Niigata, Japan
Death: 23 July 2013
Sanjo City, Niigata, Japan
Age: 111 years, 178 days
Country: JapanJPN
Validated

Jokichi Ikarashi [Japanese: 五十嵐丈吉] (26 January 1902 – 23 July 2013) was a Japanese supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of his death, he was the oldest known living man in Japan, and the oldest validated man ever from Niigata Prefecture (this record was later surpassed by Chitetsu Watanabe).

Biography[]

Early Life[]

Jokichi Ikarashi was born in Nishinaka, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan on 26 January 1902. When he was younger, he often stated that he wanted to become a centenarian.

Ikarashi used to work as a rice farmer. He took his retirement in his 50s to take care of his ill wife (who died in 1973 at the age of 68).

Later Life[]

In 2008, Ikarashi moved in the nursing home Tsukanome no Sato [Japanese: つかのめの里] in Tsukanome, Sanjo City. On his 110th birthday in 2012, he joked that he "forgot to die", and said he would like to live to the age of 125. His age was verified by Anson Davis and Japan's MHLW, and validated by the GRG on 18 September 2012.

Ikarashi never suffered from any major injuries or illnesses, apart from a fall from a tree at the age of 91, which resulted in a broken left foot. He ate three meals every day, enjoyed singing, and avoided alcohol and tobacco (which he credited for his longevity).

In June 2013, Ikarashi was reported to be spending most of his time in bed. As he was sleeping all the time, it was his family who answered to the interview. He had four children, who gave him eleven grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild at that time.

Jokichi Ikarashi died in Tsukanome, Sanjo City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan on 23 July 2013, at the age of 111 years, 178 days. Following his death, Sakari Momoi became the oldest known living man in Japan.

Longevity Records[]

Following the death of 111-year-old Masayo Ogawara on 2 April 2013, Ikarashi became the oldest known living person in Niigata Prefecture.

Following the death of 116-year-old Jiroemon Kimura on 12 June 2013, Ikarashi became the oldest known living man in Japan.

Following the death of 111-year-old James McCoubrey on 5 July 2013, Ikarashi was thought to have been the world's oldest living man. However, the verification of Salustiano Sanchez (over seven months his senior) two days after Ikarashi's death meant that neither him nor McCoubrey were the world's oldest man.

References[]


Japan's Oldest Living Man Titleholders (VE)

Shozaburo Oda • Tokusaburo Hatsukade • Unknown • Ikumatsu Matsuura • Masakichi Kai • Goro Usuyama • Shizuo Jinjiang • Kokuzo Iwate • Eisaku Takada • Hisaharu Arai • Chojiro Goto • Yozotaro Yoshikawa • Masutaro Sato • Takataro Hiragushi • Mataichi Ono • Shotaro Tanaka • Rinzo Shimizu • Koji Onishi • Inasaku Abe • Mokotaru Osada • Eiju Tsuru • Kiichi Fujiwara • Nisaburo Matsuyama • Shimetaro Hara • Gihei Oka • Gengan Tonaki • Denzo Ishizaki • Sadayoshi Tanabe • Yukichi Chuganji • Kameni Nakamura • Minsho Ozawa • Totaro Murakami • Kohachi Shigetaka • Nijiro Tokuda • Tomoji Tanabe • Jiroemon Kimura • Jokichi Ikarashi • Sakari Momoi • Yasutaro Koide • Masamitsu Yoshida • Masazo NonakaChitetsu WatanabeIssaku TomoeShojiro ShiraiMotoi FukunishiMikizo UedaShigeru NakamuraGisaburo Sonobe

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