Masao Kōge, the oldest living person in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, passed away from natural causes (senility) on 20 April 2025, at the age of 111 years and 355 days.
This news was first reported by the Minami-Nippon Shimbun (Minami-Nippon Newspaper).
She was born on 30 April 1913, in Korea during the Japanese colonial period. After marrying in Korea, she moved to her husband’s hometown of Tsuruta-machi (now part of Satsuma Town in Kagoshima Prefecture), following the end of World War II.
In Japan, she raised five children and adapted to her new environment, including learning the Kagoshima dialect. Kōge was known for her quiet and patient nature and was especially skilled at making homemade kimchi, a nod to her Korean birthplace. Even at the age of 111, she was still able to feed herself.
She became the oldest living person in Kagoshima Prefecture following the death of Sueko Katsu of Amami Ōshima (a remote island in Kagoshima Prefecture), who passed away on 6 July 2024, aged 112.
Following her passing, 111-year-old Sato Sakashita of Kagoshima City has become the oldest living person in Kagoshima Prefecture.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Masao Kōge during this difficult time.
