Mini Tale: Sogen Kato

At the age of 111, Sogen Kato was about to be crowned “Tokyo’s oldest living man” and celebrated during Japan’s Respect for the Aged Day. But when Sogen’s family wouldn’t allow city officials to speak with him, suspicions were at an all-time high. During a wellness check, officials found that Sogen had been deceased in his family’s home for over 20 years. Tune in to hear Sogen’s story and the repercussions that followed. Download now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and most other listening platforms. Please review and rate us on wherever you stream! For pictures and more information, please follow us on Instagram & Threads @thespectralpod and check out our resources below. Sources: “Almost 200 centenarians ‘missing’ in Japan”. BBC News, 12 Aug. 2010, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-10949562. Ogura, Junko. “Toky’s ‘oldest man’ may have been dead for decades.” CNN, 30 July 2010, https://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/07/30/japan.oldest.man/index.html. “Tokyo’s ‘oldest man’ had been dead for 30 years.” BBC News, 29 July 2010, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-10809128.