Here’s a full article‑style summary about Japan’s oldest living person — a retired doctor — and what she’s revealed about her long life based on verified sources:
🧓 Shigeko Kagawa: Japan’s Oldest Living Person and Retired Doctor
Shigeko Kagawa, born on May 28, 1911, in Yamatokōriyama city in Nara Prefecture, Japan, is currently recognised as the oldest living person in Japan at age 114. She assumed the title on July 29, 2025, following the death of another 114‑year‑old supercentenarian, Miyoko Hiroyasu. (Wikipedia)
🎓 Early Life and Career
- Kagawa was born into a family of doctors and went on to study medicine at what is now Kansai Medical University. (Wikipedia)
- During World War II, she worked at a hospital in Osaka, witnessing the devastation of the war and caring for the sick. (Wikipedia)
- After the war, she married in 1947 and had a daughter the following year. (Wikipedia)
- Kagawa later ran her family clinic as an obstetrician and gynecologist, dedicating decades to serving her community. She was known for being on call night and day for patients. (Wikipedia)
- She continued practising medicine until the age of 86, long past the typical retirement age for doctors. (Wikipedia)
🏅 Becoming a Longevity Icon
Even after retirement, Kagawa’s life continued to attract attention:
- In 2021, at age 109, she became one of the oldest people ever to carry the Olympic torch during part of the Tokyo Olympic Games’ torch relay. She completed her leg of the relay with the support of her granddaughter. (Wikipedia)
- Elderly but active, she has lived independently in her home in Yamatokoriyama Prefecture. In her later years, she suffered a hip fracture and underwent surgery at age 113, yet continued to engage in daily activities afterwards. (Wikipedia)
🍎 Daily Life and Longevity Habits
Despite her advanced age, Kagawa stays mentally and physically active:
- Every day she reads the newspaper with a magnifying glass. (Wikipedia)
- She attends a day care centre twice weekly where she enjoys brain‑training games on a tablet computer. (Wikipedia)
- She also practices calligraphy and maintains hobbies like sewing. (Wikipedia)
🧠 Her Approach to Longevity
When asked about why she has lived so long — well beyond the average life expectancy in Japan — Kagawa has emphasised simple, everyday habits rather than any “secret” diet or formula:
- She has been quoted saying she doesn’t follow any miracle regimen but enjoys life by staying active, walking frequently, and living with independence and freedom. (True Point News)
- In past interviews she also highlighted that her walking from youth — walking long distances to school and during house calls as a doctor — helped keep her strong. (Shura Meeting)
🇯🇵 Context: Japan’s Longevity
Japan is known for its high number of centenarians and supercentenarians:
- The Gerontology Research Group lists Kagawa as one of the oldest living people globally, with Japan consistently having a high number of citizens aged 100+. (Wikipedia)
- Historically, the country’s longest‑lived person was Kane Tanaka, who reached 119 years, and Jiroemon Kimura was the world’s oldest man at 116 years old. (Wikipedia)
📌 Summary
Shigeko Kagawa — at 114 years old — is Japan’s oldest living person, a retired obstetrician‑gynecologist who served her community for decades and still enjoys an active daily life. Her longevity is attributed to staying physically active, maintaining hobbies, independence, and embracing a positive attitude toward everyday life rather than a specific diet or secret. (Wikipedia)
If you’d like, I can also share a concise checklist of common lifestyle factors linked to longevity, based on research from Japanese centenarians. Would you like that? 🍵
