Shigeko Kagawa, Japan's oldest person who lived in Yamatokoriyama, Nara Prefecture, passed away on the 27th, Jiji Press and other media reported on the 31st.

She was 115 years old.

Born in May 1911, the deceased had been the oldest person in Japan since a 114-year-old woman in Nakatsu, Oita Prefecture, passed away in July of last year.

The cause of Kagawa's death was not disclosed.

Following the death of Tomiko Itooka of Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture—who was born in May 1908 and was the world's oldest person—at the age of 116 in December 2024, the current world's oldest person is known to be Ethel Caterham, a British national born in August 1909.

Japan's new oldest person is Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto.

The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that the number of centenarians in Japan increased for the 55th consecutive year, reaching 99,736 as of September of last year, which is close to 100,000 and an increase of 4,644 from a year earlier.

(File Photo: Yonhap News)