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Japanese businessman, Satoru Anzaki, has organised an “end of life” party for himself.
The 80-year-old man with terminal cancer decided to organise his own ‘funeral’ party at a Tokyo hotel and invited his closest friends and business associates along. Around 1,000 guests attended the party.
Anzaki, dormer president of Japanese mining equipment maker, Komatsu, was diagnosed with gall bladder cancer in October but decided against chemotherapy due to the side effects.
“I am satisfied that I could say ‘thank you’ to people I met in my life,” he told Japanese media.
“As I want to maximise the quality of life during the time I have left, I have decided not to receive treatment given the side effects.
“I have enjoyed my life very much. I thought that being despondent is not in my nature.”
He added: “I am happy to be able to convey my gratitude in my own words.
“I want to make the most of the rest of my time and be put in a coffin having thought ‘my life was fun’.”
One friend who attended the party said: “It was just like Anzaki to host an event like this. He values human relationships more than anything else.”