BIOGRAPHY

Tsunahei Ogawa was born in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, on 9 January 1907. At some point, he moved to Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, where he ran a kimono store for over 70 years. He had a son and a daughter.

When asked about the secret of his longevity, he attributed it to living a regular life and avoiding excessive drinking and eating. Even when he was a centenarian, reading newspaper was part of his daily routine.

Tsunahei Ogawa passed away of pneumonia in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on 4 January 2019, five days short of his 112th birthday.

RECOGNITION

On 30 December 2014, following the death of 110-year-old Shingo Kitamura, he became the oldest living man in Nagasaki Prefecture, at the age of 107.

On 24 October 2017, at the age of 110 years, 288 days, he surpassed the final age of Shingo Kitamura, becoming Nagasaki Prefecture’s oldest man ever.

On 7 May 2018, following the death of 111-year-old Ichi Hatta, he became the oldest living person in Nagasaki Prefecture, at the age of 111.

At the time of his death, he was the second-oldest known living man in Japan, behind 113-year-old Masazo Nonaka. Following his passing, Masae Uchiyama of Nagasaki City became the oldest living person in the Prefecture.

ATTRIBUTION

* Nagasaki Shinbun, 13 September 2016

* Nagasaki Shinbun, 17 September 2018

* Nagasaki Shinbun, 6 January 2019

GALLERY