The body of a 98-year-old man was found covered in snow on the ground beneath the eaves of a shed on his property in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, on Thursday.
Police said Nobuchika Higuchi, who lived alone, was found by a relative at around 10:30 a.m., Sankei Shimbun reported. Relatives told police they had not been able to contact Higuchi for a few days.
Police said Higuchi was confirmed dead at the scene. There was a ladder leading to the roof of the two-story shed and a shovel. Police believe Higuchi may have been removing snow from the roof and lost his footing.
When his body was found, about 80 centimeters of snow had piled up on the roof of the shed, and about 1.5 to 2 meters of snow on the ground.
The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said that nine people have died and more than 50 injured while doing snow removal work in Fukushima, Niigata, Toyama, Nagano and Fukui prefectures since Feb 4. All were aged from their 60s to their 90s, the agency said.
© Japan Today
19 Comments
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Dango bong
cant someone invent heat strips for roofs that melt the snow?
Sh1mon M4sada
IMHO, it's more tragic than just unintended harm from ckearing snow. The fact a person, almost 100 years old is living alone to me is a bigger tragedy.
With all the 1st class infrastructures, communications, emergency services, volunteers etc., and no one cares about a 98 years old out clearing snow on a cold winter morning?
Mocheake
This man must have been pretty fit to be shoveling snow from a roof at age ninety-eight. RIP.
kohakuebisu
98! What a trooper! No stretching out on cruises for Nobuchika san. RIP to the poor soul.
fwiw, it was a large two-story storehouse, not a "shed".
The news report says nine people have died in Niigata alone. I've heard about three more here in Nagano.
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/5d287be2aec3f58e62673322d5373373c498f249
Speed
Seems like the most dangerous job in Japan.
ExtraPat
@Dango Bong, “idiots” have no choice. Snow will crush the roof, and who else is going to do the shoveling? Go up and help them if you have time.
HopeSpringsEternal
Beats dying in some nursing home in a vegetative state, as at least he was taking action and being productive, RIP!
WA4TKG
I climb up and down off the roof and trees like a monkey for antenna work, and I’m over 60, but we’re talking about SNOW here…no thanks
wallace
Depending on the location, tools are available for removing roof snow from the ground, but that does not mean people will use them.
To live until 98 and then die in that way.
WA4TKG
I intend to go on deployment, as a Contractor…see you there
HopeSpringsEternal
Record snowfall in much of Japan this year, more global warming? Ditto America where more snow has fallen in parts of Texas and Florida than ever recorded. Lots of accidents result, some fatal, so please take care!
Chico3
Wow! A 98 year-old shoveling ON A ROOF? Most people his age, or even in their late 70s would have a challenging time just getting to the roof, let alone shoveling snow. My respects to this man. My prayers and thanks to him and his longevity.
Aoi Azuuri
Unfortunately, it symbolizes present this country.
Present Japan's LDP-corporations complex waste huge taxes for long term, they reduce social security or public service per person on the excuse of financial despite responsibility or misstep of themselves, division among generations has been agitated to distract anger to politics, and victimize social vulnerable one after another under the name of "self-help" "own-responsibility".
HopeSpringsEternal
No wonder depopulation occurring most rapidly in north and along the Sea of Japan, as snow is brutal for elderly and there's no 'help' available as so many young people are leaving. Not a drop of snow in Tokyo area this winter, big reason it's still growing in population.
Population numbers getting so bad, rare to see any media reporting. Number of native Japanese will drop over 1M this year, will drop +2M in less than 10 years, all while median aging spiking thru the roof (with no snow).
Mr Kipling
Everybody dies, some in a nursing home, some in road accidents, some of illness and a few by falling of a roof.
At 98 he was still up on his roof, still living his life so good for him. I'd be happy to go that way.
HopeSpringsEternal
Agreed, went out with a bang, clearly, we're impressed with the story, hardly your typical nursing home "situation".
Certain sense of honor in dying in such a fashion, real folklore stuff, he'll be a Niigata legend of sorts, surely!
iron man
Bango, the melting snow factor is called internal heating, but after a massive snow fall the roof is insulated, black magic in that snow. And if your resided slightly downhill from scientifically heated roof...Your doors would not be snowed in, more like Ice manned in. Mother nature is to be admired sometimes. I am sorry but I admire him at that age, roof got snow on it needs clearing! Most of us non-native japan F,,, cold outside so burn the electric and watch broadband flicks. TV aerials? gone in the storm. Mr Kip.. addition if I may. W'all die someday, He at 98 knew the risk, others pls cut political c... I also want to go doing a normal push it too far activity.
3RENSHO
"...roof got snow on it needs clearing!"
This assumption is NOT correct; an unoccupied shed can wait until the Spring melt. It is most unfortunate this sort of uninformed and illogical old wives' tale is accepted as truth by the general population...
Wesley
Wonder if drones can be used to slowly spray the roof with something to melt the snow away.