Post by Linalin on Mar 8, 2005 19:11:16 GMT -5
KOBE — A man who was last year designated as the oldest male in Hyogo Prefecture at the age of 107 has been found dead at his home in Itami City, with the body already mummified five to 10 years after his presumed death, police said Tuesday.
According to municipal officials, Kyujiro Kanaoka was named the oldest man in the city in 1999. Since then, the city mayor visited the man's home every year in September, but his family refused to allow the mayor to meet with him, saying he was bedridden.
The Itami police plan to question the man's family, suspecting they failed to report the man's death.
Investigators said the body, with the face down and wearing a light-cotton kimono, was found Monday afternoon on a futon. Surrounding the body were charms and meals, and several towels wrapped in Japanese paper at his feet.
Kanaoka was living with a son, 75, and two daughters, 79 and 72.
The son was quoted as making nonsensical comments to the police that he did not think his father was dead but that he would have a full life if a funeral is held in March in the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac, which is this year.
The son called a relative in the city on Monday and said he would like to hold a funeral for his father, and the relative notified the police, who confirmed the death of Kanaoka.
Can you imagine the stench?
According to municipal officials, Kyujiro Kanaoka was named the oldest man in the city in 1999. Since then, the city mayor visited the man's home every year in September, but his family refused to allow the mayor to meet with him, saying he was bedridden.
The Itami police plan to question the man's family, suspecting they failed to report the man's death.
Investigators said the body, with the face down and wearing a light-cotton kimono, was found Monday afternoon on a futon. Surrounding the body were charms and meals, and several towels wrapped in Japanese paper at his feet.
Kanaoka was living with a son, 75, and two daughters, 79 and 72.
The son was quoted as making nonsensical comments to the police that he did not think his father was dead but that he would have a full life if a funeral is held in March in the Year of the Rooster in the Chinese zodiac, which is this year.
The son called a relative in the city on Monday and said he would like to hold a funeral for his father, and the relative notified the police, who confirmed the death of Kanaoka.
Can you imagine the stench?
