BIOGRAPHY

Hisao Ikeda was born in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, on November 2, 1912, as the fifth of seven siblings. When he was 10 years old, on September 1, 1923, the Great Kantō earthquake struck. His family lived in a two-story house, which was quite uncommon at that time. In fear of the building collapsing, they sought refuge in a bamboo thicket. However, their newly constructed house remained undamaged, and his family remained safe. However, even at the age of 110, he vividly recalled witnessing the sky over the Tokyo area turning bright red at night for two consecutive nights after the earthquake.

Ikeda took part in the Manchuria Incident in 1931 as a member of the cavalry. During World War II, he was employed at a munitions facility in Yokohama, where he also endured the Yokohama air raid in May 1945. He rarely discussed his wartime experiences with his family. He served as the president of a plastic forming company. In 1956, he moved to Midori Ward in Yokohama City.

Ikeda played gateball for many years and demonstrated enough skill to compete in national tournaments. However, he retired from the sport at the age of 101 after a hospitalization. Following his release from the hospital, he began painting upon the recommendation of the daycare center he started attending. He devoted himself to painting both at home and at the care center. At the age of 103, a mere year and a half later, he had already created more than 150 paintings. In February 2016, Ikeda exhibited two of his paintings at a gallery hosted by the Midori Ward Office, and these artworks were featured in a local newspaper as “masterpieces by a 103-year-old.” In September of the same year, despite not having dementia, he took part in the Cross-Japan Marathon to raise awareness about dementia. Accompanied by his family, he completed the 1km distance in a wheelchair.

Hisao Ikeda passed away in Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, on 5 August 2023, at the age of 110 years, 276 days.

RECOGNITION

In September 2021, Ikeda was reported as the oldest living man in Yokohama City.

In September 2022, he was reported as the oldest living man in Kanagawa Prefecture.

His age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Yu Li, Takehiro Shibuya and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by LongeviQuest on 12 September 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* “103歳が力作披露　池田さん、絵画を出典“ – Town News, 3 March 2016

* “列島縦断イベント１０３歳池田さん 出場へ” – Town News, 15 September 2016

* “池田久雄さん　男性市内最高齢者に　大正元年生まれの１０８歳” – Town News, 30 September 2021

* “池田久雄さん　県内男性最高齢者に　岡田区長が長寿祝い” – Town News, 22 September 2022

* “関東大震災 100年前の記憶” – Mainichi Shinbun, 7 January 2023

* “「東京が燃えていた」１００年前、群馬で被災した池田さん” – Kanagawa Shinbun, 1 September 2023

GALLERY