114-year-old retired doctor becomes Japan's oldest living person
Kagawa, a symbol of Japan's extraordinary longevity, graduated from medical school before World War II, served at a hospital in Osaka during the war, and later ran her family's clinic as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She retired at 86.
At 109, Kagawa became one of the oldest torchbearers in Olympic history during the Tokyo 2021 torch relay.
'I don't have any,' Kagawa told TOS News in 2023 when asked 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 as Japan's oldest person led a similarly active life. Born in 1911, Hiroyasu studied art in Tokyo, taught in Hiroshima Prefecture and raised three children.
She died in a nursing home in Oita Prefecture, where she spent her days reading newspapers, sketching and playing card games.
'I am grateful to be healthy,' she said on her 113th birthday.
Despite an overall population decline, Japan's elderly population continues to grow. As of September 1, 2024, a record 36 million people — 29% of the population — were aged 65 or older, the highest proportion of seniors in the world. Those aged 80 and above now make up 10% of the population, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
There are 95,119 centenarians across the country.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Shigeko Kagawa, At 114, Is Japan's Oldest Living Citizen. Read Her Secret To A Long Life
Last Updated: Shigeko Kagawa, a retired doctor, has become Japan's oldest living person at 114. Shigeko Kagawa, a retired doctor, has officially become Japan's oldest living person at the age of 114. The announcement was made by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, following the recent passing of Miyoko Hiroyasu, who was also 114. Kagawa has lived an inspiring life. In 2021, at the age of 109, she became one of the oldest people to carry the Olympic torch during the Tokyo Games relay. Her life as a doctor, dedication to her patients, and healthy lifestyle have made her a symbol of longevity in Japan. A Lifelong Commitment to Healthcare By profession, Kagawa was an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She graduated from medical school before World War II and worked in a hospital in Osaka during the war. After that, she took over her family's clinic and served her community with dedication for many years. She eventually retired at the age of 86. 'After the war, she took over her family's clinic and contributed to the local medical care as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She used to have a telephone by her bedside every night and would rush to her patients' homes when called, early in the morning or late at night. Even after retiring, sometimes a former patient would approach her on the street, thanking her for saving the lives of their loved ones," according to LongeviQuest. Her family says Kagawa hasn't done anything unusual to stay healthy. She follows a fixed daily routine, eats three proper meals in small portions, and values rest and balance. Previously, when asked about her long life, Kagawa said, 'When I was a doctor, there were no cars like now, so I used to wear clogs and walk a lot when I went to see a doctor. Maybe that's why I'm strong and healthy." In 2023, she also told TOS News, '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." Kagawa's story follows that of Miyoko Hiroyasu, the former oldest living Japanese citizen. Hiroyasu was a teacher and artist who lived a quiet life in a nursing home in Oita Prefecture, spending her days reading, sketching, and playing cards. Like Kagawa, she credited her health to staying mentally and physically active well into old age. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
CGHS beneficiaries: Hospital claims to be rejected without geo tagged photo upload in these cases, revised rules issued
One-time waiver for geo-tagged photos Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills Revised geo-tagging requirements Category Requirement Remarks IPD – Referral Cases(e-referral) No geo-tagged photographs required. Referral must be valid and uploaded on NHA portal. IPD - Non-Referral Cases (manual) (including emergencies, beneficiaries >= 70 yrs, follow-up admissions, etc.) " Two geo-tagged photographs: (i) at admission, (ii) at discharge. " For hospitalisation > 7 days, an additional geo-tagged photograph every 7th day. " Photographs must be captured in situ (ward/ICU). " Display of CGHS card in the frame not required. OPD - With Valid Referral / Endorsement (consultation, investigations, day-care) No geo-tagged photographs required. OPD – Without Referral Mandatory geo-tagged photograph for: Beneficiaries >=70 yrs; Follow-up consultations linked to a main referral where no fresh endorsement is issued; Bed-ridden beneficiaries (video consultation screenshot acceptable). How to capture & upload In order to reduce compliance burdens and enhance efficiency in claim processing, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued revised guidelines for uploading geo-tagged photographs for in-patient (IPD) and outpatient (OPD) treatments which is a significant relief for hospitals and Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has granted a one-time exemption for hospitals from uploading daily geo-tagged photos of admitted patients in certain cases. This waiver covers the period from the date the earlier mandatory photo upload order was implemented up until the date of this memorandum (2025).Earlier, in December 2024, an advisory was issued due to a rise in fraudulent activities stating: 'Daily Photo Uploads Geo-tagged photos of all admitted (IPD) cases must be uploaded to the Transaction Management System (TMS) portal daily. For OPD cases, photos taken on the same day must also be uploaded.'According to the Office Memorandum (OM), 'A one-time waiver is hereby granted for the requirement of uploading daily geo-tagged photographs for the period commencing from the date on which the earlier order mandating daily uploads was issued up to the date of this O.M. A copy of the present O.M. must be appended by the Health-care Organisations (HCOs) to every case covered by this waiver and resubmit in the portal.'The revised guidelines take effect immediately and will remain in force until further must be geo-tagged automatically by the device using smart phone/tablet) and uploaded to the CGHS billing portal in real time or within 24 hours of capture. Image resolution should be kept reasonable (= 1 MB per file) to avoid network congestion. HCOs will maintain a local back-up of the images for a minimum of 90 days for audit purposes.
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
Shigeko Kagawa Becomes Japan's Oldest Person At Age 114. Her Secret To Longevity Is...
Shigeko Kagawa, a 114-year-old retired physician, has become Japan's oldest living person, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced. According to ABC News, Ms Kagawa became the oldest living person in the Asian nation after the death of Miyoko Hiroyasu, who was also the same age before her demise. At the age of 109, Ms Kagawa also became one of the oldest Olympic torchbearers in the history of the games during the Tokyo 2021 torch relay, reported the outlet. Shigeko Kagawa is an obstetrician and gynaecologist by profession. She graduated from medical school before World War II, served at a hospital in Osaka during the war and later ran her family's clinic as an obstetrician and gynaecologist. She retired at 86. "After the war, she took over her family's clinic, and contributed to the local medical care as an obstetrician and gynecologist. She used to have a telephone by her bedside every night and would rush to her patients' homes when called, early in the morning or late at night. Even after retiring, sometimes a former patient would approach her on the street, thanking her for saving the lives of their loved ones," according to LongeviQuest. Ms Kagawa, who serves as a symbol of Japan's extraordinary longevity, is not doing anything out of the ordinary to stay healthy, said her family when asked about the secret of her long life. She keeps a regular routine, going to bed and waking up at set times, and she eats small portions but always has three proper meals a day, the family said. Previously, when she was asked about the secret of her longevity, Ms Kagawa said, "When I was a doctor, there were no cars like now, so I used to wear clogs and walk a lot when I went to see a doctor. Maybe that's why I'm strong and healthy." "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," she told TOS News in 2023. "At the age of 114, she reportedly continues to read the newspaper thoroughly every day using a magnifying glass, valuing intellectual stimulation," the organisation said. Ms Kagawa's predecessor as Japan's oldest person led a similarly active life. According to The Independent, Ms Hiroyasu studied art in Tokyo, taught in Hiroshima Prefecture and raised three children. She died in a nursing home in Oita Prefecture, where she spent her days reading newspapers, sketching and playing card games. "I am grateful to be healthy," she said on her 113th birthday.
