Translate:

Toshizō Kaijū (海住利三), photographed in April 2025. He was 108 years old at the time. (Source: Chunichi Shimbun)

Supercentenarian Profile

Toshizō Kaijū (海住利三)

Born:

1916-08-21

Not available

Japan

Current Residence:

Tsu City, Mie Prefecture,

Japan

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Toshizō Kaijū (Japanese: 海住利三) is a Japanese supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Toshizō Kaijū (海住利三) was born in Japan on 21 August 1916. He was the third of six siblings and the second son in his family. Upon marriage, he was adopted into the Kaijū family and later worked in the forestry industry.

Longevity also ran in his family. His older brother lived to nearly 90, while his older sister reached the age of 104. As of 2025, his two younger sisters were reportedly still living at the ages of 100 and in their 90s, respectively.

At around the age of 20, Kaijū underwent a military examination. Due to his poor eyesight and slight build, he was classified as Category C (丙種), a lower category of physical fitness for military service, and was initially exempted from enlistment. However, toward the end of the Pacific War, he reportedly performed defense duties at a naval air base in Suzuka and with an anti-aircraft artillery unit in Osaka.

His younger brother, who was about seven years his junior, was killed in China during the war. In an interview at the age of 108, Kaijū recalled that when he went to collect his younger brother’s remains, he could not even cry, as he had to stay strong in those days.

At the age of 108, Kaijū was living at his home in Tsu, Mie Prefecture, with his eldest son and daughter-in-law. His daily routine included listening to the radio in his room and taking an afternoon nap. At 4 p.m., he would begin enjoying his daily shochu, a routine he particularly looked forward to.

He ate two meals a day. His breakfast was simple, consisting of rice with raw egg and miso soup. For dinner, his daughter-in-law prepared fish about four times a week and meat dishes about three times a week. His meals were described as well-balanced Japanese home cooking, similar to the kind of meals illustrated in home economics textbooks.

Kaijū attributed his longevity to not being a picky eater, eating a wide variety of foods, and enjoying an alcoholic drink every evening. He also said that drinking alcohol made him feel good and gave him courage.

RECOGNITION

In 2022, at the age of 106, Kaijū became the oldest living man in Mie Prefecture. He has subsequently been recognized as the prefecture’s oldest living man for five consecutive years.

Kaijū celebrated his 110th birthday in August 2026, becoming the first man in Mie Prefecture to reach the age of 110. At the time, he was also the second-oldest living person in the prefecture overall. In September 2026, he was reported to be the oldest living man in Mie Prefecture.

His age was verified by Ryohei Asano, Yumi Yamamoto and Eli Logan, and validated by LongeviQuest on 14 October 2026.