Gifu’s Okagi Hayashi, 115, Becomes Japan’s Oldest Living Person

On January 4, 2025, LongeviQuest confirmed that Okagi Hayashi, a resident of Toki City, Gifu Prefecture, became Japan’s oldest living person on December 29, at the age of 115 years and 118 days. On January 6, 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) subsequently announced that she had become the oldest living person in Japan. She assumed the title following the passing of Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old from Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture.

Okagi Hayashi (Japanese: 林おかぎ) was born in the village of Tsumagi (now Tsumagicho, Toki City), Gifu Prefecture, on September 2, 1909. Her father was a grain wholesaler. After graduating from elementary school, she enrolled at Nakatsu Girls’ High School. At this point, she left her parents’ house and lived in a high school dormitory.

In her early 20s, she married an elementary school teacher. Her husband was adopted into the Hayashi family, so she never changed her maiden name. They lived in Hokkaido Prefecture until their first son was born, and then returned to Toki City where Hayashi took over her family’s grain wholesale business. The couple had nine children in total. She has been highly health-conscious since mid-life, drinking her homemade green juice every morning and exercising along with her husband. Until she was in her 80s, she enjoyed going on hot spring trips and gardening with her friends from school days. She practiced calligraphy into her 90s.

At 115 years old, Hayashi’s recent daily life includes shorter waking hours, but she continues to actively participate in meals and events, often using a wheelchair. Her appetite remains strong, and she occasionally feeds herself using a spoon. In December of the previous year, she attended a Christmas party, wore a Santa hat, and ate cake on her own. When she receives picture postcards from her family, she expresses joy and carefully treasures them.

On June 24, 2019, following the death of 110-year-old Tsuyo Wada of Gujō, she became the oldest living person in Gifu Prefecture, at the age of 109 years, 295 days. She went on to become the prefecture’s oldest resident ever on April 27, 2023, when she surpassed the age of 113 years and 237 days, previously held by Hisa Arai (1904–2018).

Hayashi is the first fully documented resident of Gifu Prefecture to be recognized as the nation’s oldest living person.

We at LongeviQuest would like to extend our congratulations to Mrs. Hayashi and her family. This extraordinary milestone is a testament to her strength, resilience, and the love surrounding her. We wish her continued good health, happiness, and many more years of joy with her loved ones.