BIOGRAPHY

Nakanishi was born in Sugie-cho, Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan on 15 March 1896.

In February 2002, shortly prior to his 106th birthday, Nakanishi entered a local nursing home. He had a fondness for beer, and even at 109 years old, would still drink a glass of the beverage at dinner.

As a supercentenarian, Nakanishi was able to independently move himself in his wheelchair. His daily routine included chanting sutras every morning and every evening. When asked about the secret of his longevity, he smiled shyly and said, “There’s nothing special. A lot has happened in my long life, so I don’t know what to talk about.”

On 15 August 2007, Nakanishi returned home for the Japanese Buddhist holiday of Obon, but he fell ill and was hospitalised three days later. He passed away on 22 August 2007 from pneumonia at the age of 111 years, 160 days.

RECOGNITION

At the time of his death, Nakanishi was the second-oldest man in Japan after Tomoji Tanabe (1895 – 2009).

Nakanishi’s age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 16 September 2006.

ATTRIBUTION

• “祝 長寿　いつまでもお元気でね！敬老の日” – Moriyama City Public Relations, 15 September 2003 issue
• “各地で長寿祝う会　県内最高齢、守山の中西さんに記念品＝滋賀” – Yomiuri Shimbun, 21 September 2004
• MHLW, Japan – 15 September 2006

GALLERY