Recognition
In September 2005, he celebrated his 110th birthday, becoming the first male supercentenarian from Miyazaki Prefecture. His age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 30 October 2005.
On 12 June 2006, following the death of 111-year-old Nijiro Tokuda of Kagoshima, Japan, he became the oldest living man in Japan, at the age of 110 years, 267 days.
On 24 January 2007, following the death of 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro of Puerto Rico, he became the world’s oldest validated living man. At the age of 111 years, 128 days, he became the youngest man to hold the title since John Painter (1888–2001) over seven years prior. In June 2007, he was presented with a certificate from Guinness World Records.
On 10 April 2007, following the death of 111-year-old Kozuru Ueda, he became the oldest living person in Miyazaki Prefecture, at the age of 111 years, 204 days.
On 28 March 2008, at the age of 112 years, 192 days, he surpassed the final age of Denzo Ishizaki (1886–1999) of Ibaraki, becoming the third-oldest Japanese man ever.