Sueko Katsu, Kagoshima Prefecture's Oldest Living Person, Turned 112

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce that Kagoshima, Japan’s oldest known living person turned 112 years old. Sueko Katsu celebrated her birthday at a nursing home in Setouchi Town, Amami Oshima. Her family visited the nursing home with cake and flowers. The staff at her nursing home also sent her heartwarming messages of congratulations. LongeviQuest has sent Mrs. Sueko Katsu flowers as a small gift. She is currently the oldest living person in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Sueko Katsu’s 112th Birthday Celebration

Sueko Katsu was born in Setouchi, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on 26 March 1912. She spent her early working years as a dormitory manager in Osaka. After returning to her hometown, she got married and raised five children. World War II found them seeking refuge in Amami’s air raid shelters and dense forests. Following the war, Sueko and her husband thrived as farmers, cultivating a variety of fruits and vegetables on a large plot of land. Their entrepreneurial spirit led them to open a shop specializing in local tofu and a factory dedicated to the creation of ‘oshima tsumugi,’ a traditional woven fabric.

Even in her 80s and 90s, Sueko Katsu remained active. She played traditional drums at festivals with her sister and continued well into her 100s. Beyond music, she enjoyed daily gateball games and even won a local tournament. On September 15, 2023, she received a special visit from the Director of the Oshima Branch of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and was congratulated for being the oldest person in Kagoshima Prefecture.

Mrs. Sueko Katsu lived alone in her home until she was about 107 years old, and she grew many vegetables and fruits in a large field. Her garden is still full of fruit, and the LongeviQuest Japan office received oranges from the trees she grew as a gift from her family.