InsideJapan News Network

Japanese authorities are to begin searching for the country's oldest citizens after some people thought to hold the record for being the most senior in some parts turned out to be deceased or missing.

Earlier this week, the so-called oldest women in Tokyo was found to have been missing for decades, according to her daughter. As well as this, a man alleged to be the oldest in Japan had actually been dead in his home for more than 30 years - some members of his family are now looking at charges over falsely drawn pension money.

Following the omissions, the Japanese authorities are to launch a nationwide campaign to find out the location of all of its oldest residents, according to the Guardian.

The newspaper also noted a report in Japanese newspaper the Asahi Shimbun which suggested that three more centenarians had now disappeared. Officials are also now looking for a man in Nagoya who is allegedly 106 years old.

Japan has one of the world's oldest populations and there are thought to be as many as 400,000 citizens aged 100 or more in the country.

Written by Mark Smith.