'Oldest Man' Actually Dead For Years

(Itami, Japan) Kyujiro Kanaoka had been hailed for years as the oldest resident in Hyogo Prefecture. He was believed to be age 107 and every year the mayor would send him gifts on Respect For The Aged Day. Unfortunately, after Kanaoka's 75-year-old son expressed some concerns, police found his mummified body on a living room futon. An autopsy estimated that Kanaoka had actually died of illness or natural causes between five and 10 years ago.

The son and two sisters aged 79 and 72 had lived together with Kanaoka. They had kept his kimono-clad body in the first room of their house in Itami. The body had mummified. The futon on which the body was laid was surrounded by religious amulets, charms and notes. The offspring left meals beside the old man's body every day.

Holy moly! You would imagine that somebody would have noticed.