Shigeko Kagawa, the oldest living person in Japan, celebrated her 115th birthday

The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Shigeko Kagawa (賀川滋子), the oldest living person in Japan, has celebrated her 115th birthday on 28 May 2026 in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture.

Shigeko Kagawa was born in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, Japan, on 28 May 1911.

In April 2021, she became the oldest Olympic torchbearer ever at age 109 years, 11 months. The previous record holder was Aida Mendes (20 November 1909 – 9 April 2020) of Brazil, who was 106 at the time when she participated as a torchbearer in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

On 28 May 2021, Kagawa celebrated her 110th birthday and became a supercentenarian. In September 2022, she was reported as the oldest living person in Nara Prefecture; her predecessor, Misayo Yamashita, went to limbo.

Kagawa’s age was verified by Japan’s MHLW and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by the GRG on 16 May 2023.

On 29 July 2025, following the death of 114-year-old Miyoko Hiroyasu of Oita Prefecture, she became the oldest validated living person in Japan and Asia.

At the age of 114, she lead a regular lifestyle, watched TV, read newspapers, and enjoyed calligraphy. She ate small meals but ate three solid meals a day.

On 28 May 2026, she celebrated her 115th birthday, marked the first Japanese to reached that age since the death of Okagi Hayashi of Gifu Prefecture on 26 April 2025.

Shigeko Kagawa currently lives at home with her family in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, Japan at the age of 115. She is currently the fourth-oldest living person whose age is validated by the GRG, after Ethel Caterham of the UK, Naomi Whitehead of the USA, and Lucia Laura Sangenito of Italy.

Happy 115th birthday to Mrs. Kagawa! We wish her good health and a long life!

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115th birthday post (Facebook)