Yoshi Yamamoto, one of the oldest residents of Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, celebrated her 112th birthday on February 18 in Iwamizawa..
Yamamoto-san (山本ヨシ) was born in Tsukigata, Hokkaido Prefecture, on 18 February 1913, as the eldest daughter of Kōichiro Shiobara and Tsutsuyo. She is a descendant of Tasuke Shiobara, a well-known merchant from the Edo period. She was the second of four siblings, with an older brother, a younger sister, and a younger brother. In 1931, at 18 years old, she married Koshiro Yamamoto, a fellow villager. Together, they raised six children—one son and five daughters.
From 1941 to 1948, during her husband’s military service, she managed both household and farming duties, ensuring her family’s well-being. As a grandmother, she lovingly cared for her grandchildren and enjoyed making snacks for them from leftover ingredients.
Passionate about music, Yoshi found joy in both singing and listening to songs. Before moving into a care home, she remained active by assisting with the family’s farming business and tending to her chickens. Known for her strong-willed nature, she never backed down from an argument, even as a child.
At her 112th birthday celebration, when the staff congratulated her with “Omedetou gozaimasu” (Congratulations), she responded by singing a song, expressing her joy through music. For her birthday meal, she requested sekihan (red bean rice) and ate it herself using a spoon.
Yoshi currently resides in a senior care home in Tsukigata, where she remains in good health and actively participates in daily activities. She enjoys a variety of foods, engages in recreational programs, and attends dance lessons twice a month, enjoying hand dancing while seated in her wheelchair.
In September 2024, she was reported to be the second-oldest living resident of Hokkaido Prefecture, surpassed only by a 112-year-old woman.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations on her birthday and hope she celebrated surrounded by her loved ones. May she enjoy many more years of health and happiness. We also sincerely thank her nursing home and family for allowing us to learn about her life story and for sharing her photos with us.
