Tokyo's 'oldest Man' Had Been Dead For 30 Years

[Raistlin]

He was thought to be the oldest man in Tokyo - but when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his 111th birthday, they uncovered mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed.

Mr Kato may have been dead for 30 years according to Japanese authorities.

They grew suspicious when they went to honour Mr Kato at his address in Adachi ward, but his granddaughter told them he "doesn't want to see anybody".

Police are now investigating the family on possible fraud charges.

Welfare officials had tried to meet Mr Kato since early this year. But when they went to visit, family members repeatedly chased them away, according to Tomoko Iwamatsu, an Adachi ward official.

Authorities grew suspicious and sought an investigation by police, who forced their way into the house on Wednesday.

They discovered a mummified body, believed to be Kato, lying in his bed, wearing underwear and pyjamas, covered with a blanket.

Mr Kato's relatives told police that he had "confined himself in his room more than 30 years ago and became a living Buddha," according to a report by Jiji Press.

But the family had received 9.5 million yen ($109,000: £70,000) in widower's pension payments via Mr Kato's bank account since his wife died six years ago, and some of the money had recently been withdrawn.

The pension fund had long been unable to contact Mr Kato.

"His family must have known he has been dead all these years and acted as if nothing happened. It's so eerie," said Yutaka Muroi, a Tokyo metropolitan welfare official.

[Bizarra]

And the "Star Attraction " didn't get a yen In fact he hadn't a yen for anything

[Raistlin]

So much for the Irish diet of potatoes and milk...

[Bizarra]

So much for the Irish diet of potatoes and milk...

You still believe in fairy tales, at your age? I suppose though. it depends on your definition of "Fairy"

[Raistlin]

The foods of Ireland have often been described as "bland," primarily due to the prolific use of potatoes and cabbage. Potatoes came to Ireland by way of South America, and by 1688, they had become a staple of the Irish diet. The Irish refer to potatoes as "praties."

According to food experts, a diet of potatoes and milk will supply all the nutrients the human body needs. The potato has long been considered a staple for the poor. Throughout their often difficult history, impoverished Irish people have relied heavily upon it for subsistence. Potatoes contain plentiful carbohydrates and some protein, calcium, and niacin

[Bizarra]

The foods of Ireland have often been described as "bland," primarily due to the prolific use of potatoes and cabbage. Potatoes came to Ireland by way of South America, and by 1688, they had become a staple of the Irish diet. The Irish refer to potatoes as "praties."

According to food experts, a diet of potatoes and milk will supply all the nutrients the human body needs. The potato has long been considered a staple for the poor. Throughout their often difficult history, impoverished Irish people have relied heavily upon it for subsistence. Potatoes contain plentiful carbohydrates and some protein, calcium, and niacin

That was way back when The Irish were so downtrodden by most of the English Landlords, that they had to subsist on that :shutit:

The commission stated that the principal cause was the bad relations between the landlord and tenant. There was no hereditary loyalty, feudal tie or paternalism as existed in England. Ireland was a conquered country, with the Earl of Clare speaking of the landlords saying "confiscation is their common title." According to Woodham-Smith, the landlords regarded the land as a source of income from which to extract as much money as possible. With the Irish "brooding over their discontent in sullen indignation" according to the Earl of Clare, Ireland was seen as a hostile place in which to live, and as a consequence absentee landlords were common, with some only visiting their property once or twice in a lifetime. The Rents from Ireland were then spent in England, it being estimated that in 1842 £6,000,000 was remitted out of Ireland. Rent collection was left in the hands of the landlords' agents, whose ability according to Woodham-Smith, was measured by the amount of money they could contrive to extract.[19]

[Raistlin]

As it should be, we also transported some to America, which may answer a few questions about their recent history :D

[Bizarra]

As it should be, we also transported some to America, which may answer a few questions about their recent history :D

Didn't have to send them that far :( This is all water under the bridge, & while it shouldn't be forgotten, should only be remembered for the lessons to be learned from History

Most of the land which Cromwell needed to settle Ireland was taken from landowners who “... had not manifested constant good affection to the interest ... of England .” This group and noblemen like Lord Inchiquin, who had taken leadership roles in Irish conflicts out of loyalty to the crown, could not be trusted by England to have power and wealth in the new Ireland. Once the land was taken from these estates, it would be redistributed to the settlers. The landless Irish would be forced to move west, to settle in places like the Burren in Clare known “to have not wood enough to hang a man, water enough to drown him, nor earth enough to bury him.” The price the Irish paid for Cromwell’s settlement was dear, but the price the English paid may have been even more dear: “... the price he [the Irishman] had to pay for his life also purchased his enmity for generations yet to come. Within the very wording of the Ordinance were to be found the seeds of its own destruction.” (D.M.R. Esson in The Curse of Cromwell).

[Phoenix999]

The family did not find out that Mr Kato was dead until they realised that he had stopped blowing out the candles on his birthday cakes.... 5 years after his death

[Bizarra]

The family did not find out that Mr Kato was dead until they realised that he had stopped blowing out the candles on his birthday cakes.... 5 years after his death

And people criticise the Homes for the Aged ?

" Be nice to your Children, coz they'll pick the home to put you in!" :crutchy: :help2:

[Raistlin]

Not long then...

[Bizarra]

Not long then...

"We are all in the queue for the Cemetery & we cannot know how near the top we may be. So, listen to the music & enjoy yourself while you can"

Cheerful, or what?

[Raistlin]

And I thought Denial was a river in Egypt... :D

[Bizarra]

And I thought Denial was a river in Egypt... :D

Quite possible that you thought that having been edumacated in England. :(

What you needed was knowledge hammered into you in a good Irish School :bookworm:

[Raistlin]

What you needed was knowledge hammered into you in a good Irish School

Isn't that a contradiction in terms... :D

[Bizarra]

What you needed was knowledge hammered into you in a good Irish School

Isn't that a contradiction in terms... :D

NO !

[Raistlin]

Another contradiction :D

[Bizarra]

Another contradiction :D

As a matter of principle, I have to disagree with you in all matters

[Raistlin]

Principle.....

[Bizarra]

Principle???.....

Oh Dear me! What did I ever do to deserve this ! Into each life a little rain must fall" but a bleeding deluge wasn't mentioned Oh well, here goes........

Not to be confused with principal.

A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws of nature or the way that a device is constructed.

Examples of principles:

* a descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

* a normative rule or code of conduct,

* a law or fact of nature underlying the working of an artificial device.

[Raistlin]

Principle...

Examples of principles:

* a descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

* a normative rule or code of conduct,

* a law or fact of nature underlying the working of an artificial device.

Wikipedia at it's best...

[Bizarra]

Principle...

Examples of principles:

* a descriptive comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption

* a normative rule or code of conduct,

* a law or fact of nature underlying the working of an artificial device.

Wikipedia at it's best...

How dare you, Sir That is all my own work ......................Copy & paste

[balli hi]

Potatoes came to Ireland by way of South America, and by 1688, they had become a staple of the Irish diet. The Irish refer to potatoes as "praties."

According to food experts, a diet of potatoes and milk will supply all the nutrients the human body needs. The potato has long been considered a staple for the poor. Throughout their often difficult history, impoverished Irish people have relied heavily upon it for subsistence. Potatoes contain plentiful carbohydrates and some protein, calcium, and niacin

:D

[Raistlin]

Evil Spud

[PBH]

Evil Spud

As in 'Englishman living in New York' well a Hertfordshire girlie living in Co Mayo ...... I can only say that all spuds look like that here, you cannot eat without this carb beign present....