Tokyo's 'oldest man' had been dead for 30 years

BBC News ^ | 29 July 2010 Last updated at 18:24 | no byline

[a fool in paradise]

He was thought to be the oldest man in Tokyo - but when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his 111th birthday, they uncovered mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed.

Mr Kato may have been dead for 30 years according to Japanese authorities.

They grew suspicious when they went to honour Mr Kato at his address in Adachi ward, but his granddaughter told them he "doesn't want to see anybody".

Police are now investigating the family on possible fraud charges.

...They discovered a mummified body, believed to be Kato, lying in his bed, wearing underwear and pyjamas, covered with a blanket.

Mr Kato's relatives told police that he had "confined himself in his room more than 30 years ago and became a living Buddha," according to a report by Jiji Press.

But the family had received 9.5 million yen ($109,000: £70,000) in widower's pension payments via Mr Kato's bank account since his wife died six years ago, and some of the money had recently been withdrawn...

[SparkyBass]

could be resting after a prolonged squawk.

[Alex Murphy]

He was thought to be the oldest man in Tokyo - but when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his 111th birthday, they uncovered mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed. Mr Kato may have been dead for 30 years according to Japanese authorities. They grew suspicious when they went to honour Mr Kato at his address in Adachi ward, but his granddaughter told them he "doesn't want to see anybody".

Police are now investigating the family on possible fraud charges....the family had received 9.5 million yen ($109,000: £70,000) in widower's pension payments via Mr Kato's bank account since his wife died six years ago, and some of the money had recently been withdrawn...

PFL

[Uncle Chip]

At what point do they claim that he’s just meditating:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3163270/posts

[GraceG]

I wonder if this guy is related to Thad Cochrane????

[apillar]

They discovered a mummified body, believed to be Kato, lying in his bed, wearing underwear and pyjamas, covered with a blanket. [...] "His family must have known he has been dead all these years

Ya think? It's been 23 years, I'm starting to worry about grandpa, think we should go check on him?

Nah, you heard him when he into his room, he said "I'm going to become a living Buddha."...or maybe it was "Owww...my chest is hurting, I'm going to lay down for a bit and see if it goes away...." But regardless, best not to disturb him, I'm sure he'll be up and about, bright as the morning sun, one of these years....

[Mastador1]

Whoo-hoo-hoo, look who knows so much. It just so happens that your friend here is only MOSTLY dead. There's a big difference between mostly dead and all dead. Mostly dead is slightly alive.

[Gamecock]

How did he vote?

[Ezekiel]

According to the latest WHO data published in April 2011 life expectancy in Japan is: Male 79.5, female 85.8 and total life expectancy is 82.7 which gives Japan a World Life Expectancy ranking of 1.

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/japan-life-expectancy

when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his 111th birthday, they uncovered mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed... Mr Kato may have been dead for 30 years...

This'll make a dent.

[Tallguy]

“Police are now investigating the family on possible fraud charges.”

Gee! D’ya think?!

[Tallguy]

... and he’ll be voting in Chicago for the next 30 years...

[VanDeKoik]

"Tokyo's 'oldest man' had been dead for 30 years"

And he has a perfect voting record in Chicago!

[DPMD]

Several of his neighbors had this to say about him: He was rather quiet.

[skinndogNN]

He stinketh.

[Charles Martel]

It seems that the old fellow’s family *did* go through his pockets looking for loose change, figuratively speaking.

[TigersEye]

Let’s not nitpick. He still wasn’t getting any younger!

[nothingnew]

"Ah, Kato, my little yellow friend"

FMCDH(BITS)

[Rio]

Another one, Lafayette Indiana:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/04/wife-lived-with-man-dead-in-home-nine-months/9947321/

[Uncle Chip]

How did he vote?

Absentee ballot --

[azishot]

wonder how many dead people in US keep receiving social security checks/direct deposits.

I'll bet more than you even think you know. When we lived back east I heard of a family who's father died and they kept his body in a freezer for several years while still collecting his SS check. I can't remember how it was discovered (and I'm not sure I want to know). Maybe a long term power outage?

[PapaBear3625]

wonder how many dead people in US keep receiving social security checks/direct deposits. The way I understand it, the funeral place is required to report the death. But what if no funeral place is used...such as this mr. K?

What if the elderly person travels to Mexico (or wherever), retires there, gets money forwarded, and then dies there. You think the Mexicans will tell social security?