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Tokyo’s ‘oldest man’ actually died 30 years ago

Posted on | July 30, 2010 | No Comments

A man thought to be the oldest living person in Tokyo, has been found to be a fraud and actually died three decades ago, it has been revealed.

A picture of a mummified body (not Sogen Kato)

Sogen Kato’s body was eventually found by city officials in his bed, after family members repeatedly chased them away, saying he was well but didn’t want to see anyone.

Officials grew suspicious and launched an investigation through the police, who forced their way into the house on Wednesday.

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

Kato’s granddaughter told investigators that he had been in the room for 30 years after declaring he wanted to be a living Buddha.

The Japanese man was born on July 22, 1889, and now police are investigating whether his family were claiming pension money from him while pretending he was still alive.

‘His family must have known he has been dead all these years and acted as if nothing happened’, said Tokyo metropolitan welfare official Yutaka Muroi.

Category: News, Pictures, weird

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