LongeviQuest recently had the privilege of speaking with the family of Mr. Ryōji Shinoda (篠田錂治) of Osaka, whose balanced Japanese meals and longevity reflect a lifetime of discipline and care. He is now 110 and will celebrate his 111th birthday this November. Through their stories, we learned about his healthy lifestyle, which he maintained while living independently until the age of 110 years and 10 months—centered around balanced Japanese meals and daily habits that reflected his lifelong sense of discipline.
Birth and Career
Ryōji Shinoda was born in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, on 30 November 1914. He worked for many years at an electric power company, where he was known for his diligence and precision. After retirement, he continued to lead an active life, enjoying golf until around the age of 88.
Independent Life in His Later Years
In his early 90s, after his wife suffered a bone fracture, the couple moved into a nursing home together. When Shinoda was 99 years old, his wife passed away, after which he made the remarkable decision to leave the facility and return to his own home, where he began living alone once again with the support of housekeepers.
By the time he reached 110, Shinoda had already lost sight in one eye and had very limited vision in the other, yet he continued to live independently with the help of housekeepers, caregivers, and nearby relatives. Known for his strict and orderly personality, he maintained a precise daily routine and continued to manage his life with discipline.
He did not nap during the day, moving around his home on his own and then sitting in his chair to listen to television programs—especially baseball broadcasts. Even as his eyesight declined, he continued using a computer with the aid of a screen magnifier until around the age of 109.
His Approach to Meals
Shinoda personally oversaw the preparation of his meals, giving detailed instructions to ensure they were balanced and nutritious, incorporating a Japanese-style approach that emphasized variety and moderation. His breakfast and lunch were gentle on the stomach, consisting of light and easily digestible foods suitable for his age. Breakfast typically included rice porridge with pickles such as takuan or senmaizuke, sweet miso paste, and Caspian Sea yogurt topped with a small amount of fruit. Lunch was usually a lighter meal of bread or noodles, with a serving of assorted fruit and tea.
Dinner was the meal he cared most about, and he always made sure to include beans—usually simmered beans—along with half a pack of natto. His meals also featured simmered vegetable dishes, as well as vinegared dishes made with ingredients such as yam, cucumber, daikon, wakame seaweed, or shirasu (whitebait), which varied from day to day. He regularly enjoyed grilled salmon, shumai dumplings, broccoli and tomato, small side dishes of seasonal greens such as ohitashi or sesame dressing, and red miso soup with wakame, tofu, or fried tofu.
His dinners featured a wide variety of nutritious ingredients—including vegetables, beans, fish, and eggs—served in modest portions that reflected his balanced approach to eating. Rather than having a single main dish, his meals followed the Japanese principle of ichiju-tasai—one soup accompanied by many small dishes—allowing him to enjoy both balance and variety. He preferred this style of eating throughout his later years, instructing his housekeepers to prepare his meals in this way as part of his health-conscious approach to daily life.
A balanced Japanese meal featuring grilled salmon, rice, miso soup, and several small side dishes of vegetables and pickles. (For illustrative purposes)
Current Life
In September 2023, Shinoda was recognized as the oldest living man in Osaka Prefecture. He lived independently at home until the age of 110 years and 10 months. After a fall in late September 2025, he was hospitalized and continues to receive care, having since recovered from his injuries.
LongeviQuest extends its warm wishes for Mr. Shinoda’s full recovery and hopes that he will soon celebrate his 111th birthday in good health and spirits.
