What to do with a dead granny? Time was when the choice was between burial or cremation, the only frisson being maybe the medical school option, but mostly it was a done deal. How times change! Now variety is the spice of death, especially in the east where morbid has taken on a whole new meaning
Japan has always chosen its own cultural path and to hear that one guy is carrying the bones of his dead mum around in a rucksack somehow fails to surprise. He needed the pension, so this seemed a good idea. And he is not alone. The Japanese pride themselves on the longevity of their citizens and the accuracy of their records. Bit of doubt creeping in there now.
Partygoers keen to celebrate the 111th birthday of Tokyo's oldest man were disappointed to find his dessicated remains in the attic, the minor detail of a stopped heart failing to prevent Sogen Kato from collecting his pension for 30 years .
Undaunted, the celebrations switched to the oldest woman, only to find the party pooped again by the fact that she has not been seen for five decades. You wouldn't mind, but they told us that everyone over there lived long and happy lives on sushi and soya and we've been stuffing ourselves with the the dreadful stuff ever since.
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