The country of Japan has long been known for its admirable prowess in three main areas: electronics, sushi, and old people. Of the ten oldest people ever recorded, according to Wikipedia, Japan can claim three. It's also home to three of the world's oldest people who are currently living — or so they say.

In reality, the country is in the midst of a scandal that is sending shock waves through the already fragile supercentenarian community, a feature in New York Magazine details.

It all started last week when Tokyo officials, in the run-up to Respect for the Elderly Day, paid a visit to 111-year-old Sogen Kato, Tokyo's oldest man, only to find him mummified on his bed, having died 30 years ago. His family is suspected of hiding Kato's death in order to collect his pension for the past three decades.

No biggie, these things happen. But just to make sure there wasn't something strange going on, Tokyo officials then paid a visit to 113-year-old Fusa Furuya, Tokyo's oldest living woman. When they got to her home, Furuya's daughter claimed her mom never lived at the address, and directed the elderly-hunters to a location outside of the city, which turned out to be a vacant lot. So — Kato, Furuya ... this is starting to get weird. Maybe it's just a coincidence. But it isn't.




Read the entire story at nymag.com