BIOGRAPHY

Ikarashi was born in Sanjo, Niigata Prefecture on 26 January 1902, the third son of eight in a farming family. His two elder brothers died young, thus Ikarashi would inherit the family business upon graduating from elementary school. He would work rice farming until he was around 50 years old.

Ikarashi was married and had four children, two sons and two daughters. Following his retirement, he devoted his later years to caring for his grandchildren and gardening; his two favourite pastimes were growing chrysanthemums and pruning trees.

After his wife became ill, Ikarashi would take her to the hospital in a hand cart. She died in the 1970s.

When Ikarashi was 91, he fell off a ladder whilst tree pruning and suffered a broken femur, but made a full recovery. Until he was around 95, he walked to the local welfare centre and would interact with people from all walks of life. On his 100th birthday, he expressed his determination to live a long life, remarking, “The world is so good, I don’t want to die yet.“

At the age of 106, Ikarashi moved into a nursing home. On his 110th birthday, he joked, “I forgot to die.” In June 2013, aged 111, he was healthy enough to participate in the nursing home’s sports day in his wheelchair, but shortly thereafter suffered a bout of pneumonia and was hospitalised on 3 July.

Ikarashi died on 23 July 2013 at the age of 111 years, 178 days. He was described by nursing home staff as fun-loving and popular. It was reported by his family that he never smoked nor drank alcohol, and enjoyed sweets and vinegar; Ikarashi claimed the latter was the secret to his longevity.

Ikarashi died on 23 July 2013 at the age of 111 years, 178 days. He was described by nursing home staff as fun-loving and popular. It was reported by his family that he never smoked nor drank alcohol, and enjoyed sweets and vinegar; Ikarashi claimed the latter was the secret to his longevity.

RECOGNITION

Ikarashi became the oldest living man in Japan follwing the 12 June 2013 death of Jiroemon Kimura, the oldest man ever whose age has been validated. Upon his own death, the title passed to 110-year-old Sakari Momoi.

After the death of James McCoubrey on 5 July 2013, Ikarashi was believed to have become the oldest living man in the world. However, the subsequent validation of Salustiano Sanchez mere days after Ikarashi’s death means that neither he nor McCoubrey held the title of world’s oldest man.

Ikarashi’s age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 4 February 2013.

ATTRIBUTION

• “「死ぬのを忘れた」/長寿の秘訣は酢　111歳五十嵐さん　かくしゃく” – Niigata Nippo, 13 June 2013
• “男性最高齢　五十嵐さん逝く　家族「幸せな人生だった」＝ 新潟” Yomiuri Shimbun, 24 July 2013
• “国内最高齢１１１歳の男性が死去／新潟の五十嵐さん” – Shikoku News, 24 July 2013

GALLERY