Ai Shinohara (Japanese: 篠原愛), the oldest living resident of Machida and one of the oldest in Tokyo Metropolis, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2024, at the age of 111 years, 222 days. Her passing was confirmed by her family.
Shinohara was born in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on 4 January 1913. Her father was the captain of a Nippon Yusen ship, becoming the first Japanese individual to sail a container ship between Europe and Japan via Egypt’s Suez Canal. She had excellent grades during her school days and successfully graduated from Kobe Jogakuin High School and university. She supported her teacher as a secretary during her studies and for several years after graduation.
In her early 20s, Shinohara got married, but her first husband succumbed to illness before the birth of their first daughter. Later, around the age of 25, she fell in love with Kamenosuke Shinohara [篠原 亀之輔], a doctor of pharmacy whom she met at a party in Kobe. She married for the second time. A few years before meeting her, he had lived in the United States for 13 years. Upon returning to Japan, he engaged in pharmaceutical research, during which he invented a reagent kit for biochemical testing during World War II, patenting it shortly after the war. In 1951, Shinohara established Shinotest Laboratory, allowing the couple to pioneer in commercializing clinical test kits worldwide.
We had the honor of meeting Shinohara-san and some of her family members this January shortly before her 111th birthday. She recalled memories from her long and accomplished life, speaking in English with our American representative.
For many years, she was the primary operator of the business she started with her husband while also raising their children. That family business was Shino-test, which thrives to this day. When asked about the difficulty of balancing entrepreneurship and motherhood, Shinohara-san said “I didn’t really think about it.” She was a woman of action.
Near the end of our visit, we wished Shinohara-san many more years of life and health in advance of her 111th birthday. She thanked us but also chuckled. A savvy businesswoman, she seemed to know she had already defied the odds. She seemed both in control and at peace.
We send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Shinohara-san.