Cause of death Pneumonia Name Jokichi Ikarashi Children Four | Occupation Farmer Nationality Japanese Died July 23, 2013, Japan | |
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Born January 26, 1902 ( 1902-01-26 ) Niigata, Japan Known for Oldest living man in Japan | ||
Jokichi Ikarashi (五十嵐 丈吉, Ikarashi Jōkichi, January 26, 1902 – July 23, 2013) was a Japanese supercentenarian who was thought to be the world's oldest verified living man after the death of 111-year-old James McCoubrey on July 5, 2013, until he died 18 days later of pneumonia at the age of 111 years, 178 days. However it was subsequently determined that Salustiano Sanchez (who died 52 days after Ikarashi), was born before Ikarashi and therefore he was the oldest living man. As stated by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Ikarashi was the oldest living man in Japan upon the death of 116-year-old Jiroemon Kimura on June 12, 2013.
Ikarashi worked as a farmer before his retirement. He had stated his desire to become a centenarian for many years, and he joked that he "forgot to die" on his 110th birthday. Ikarashi had four children, eleven grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He never had any serious injuries or illnesses other than a fall from a tree that broke his left foot at age ninety-one. Ikarashi enjoyed singing, ate three meals a day, and avoided alcohol and tobacco (which he credited for his longevity). Ikarashi was reported to be spending most of his time in bed in June 2013. At the time of his death, Ikarashi lived in a nursing home in Sanjo, Niigata. Ikarashi was succeeded as Japan's oldest living man by 110-year-old Sakari Momoi.