LongeviQuest is saddened to report the passing of Mrs. Okagi Hayashi (林おかぎ), who was the oldest living person in Japan and the third-oldest living person in the world. She passed away peacefully from heart failure at 8:39 a.m. on 26 April 2025, at the age of 115 years and 236 days.
According to her granddaughter, Mrs. Hayashi continued to eat independently until mid-April. However, on 17 April, doctors hospitalized her after detecting a small amount of fluid in her lungs. More than 30 family members—including her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren—gathered at the hospital to stay by her side. After seeing the face of each family member, one by one, Mrs. Hayashi passed away quietly and peacefully, her expression calm and content.
During her lifetime, Mrs. Hayashi took part in a longevity research study conducted by a university medical faculty in Japan. Honoring the wishes she and her family had expressed, her family donated her body to medical research after her passing, allowing her to make a final contribution to the advancement of longevity studies.
Mrs. Hayashi became the oldest living person in Japan following the passing of Tomiko Itooka (糸岡富子), who died on 29 December 2024, at the age of 116. At the time of her death, Okagi Hayashi was recognized as the third-oldest living person in the world and the last known Japanese person born in 1909 (Meiji 42).
Following Mrs. Hayashi’s passing, Mine Kondō (近藤ミネ) of Kōta, Aichi Prefecture, who is currently 114 years old, has become the oldest living person in Japan.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family during this difficult time. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to her son, granddaughter, and all her relatives who kindly shared her life story with us.
Biography
Okagi Hayashi was born in the village of Tsumagi (now Tsumagicho, Toki City), Gifu Prefecture, on 2 September 1909. She was the only daughter of a grain wholesaler.
After finishing elementary school, she enrolled at Nakatsu Girls’ High School and lived in a dormitory to pursue her education away from home.
In her early twenties, she married an elementary school teacher who joined the Hayashi family through adoption, allowing her to keep her maiden name. The couple first settled in Hokkaido Prefecture, where they welcomed their first son, before returning to Toki City to manage her family’s grain business. Together, they raised nine children.
By mid-life, Mrs. Hayashi became increasingly focused on her health. She regularly made fresh vegetable juices using produce from her garden and prepared meals centered around vegetables. She also enjoyed exercising with her husband and prioritized staying active.
Even after moving to a care home at age 105, she remained deeply engaged in daily life. She attended calligraphy classes into her nineties and continued taking occasional day trips with her family until about the age of 110.
At 112, she could still read newspapers and complete puzzles. At 115, although her waking hours had shortened, she continued to participate in meals and events from her wheelchair and maintained a strong appetite. In December 2024, she attended a Christmas party, wore a Santa hat, and enjoyed cake. She also looked forward to receiving postcards from her family and treasured them.
As of January 2025, she was blessed with 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Seven of her nine children were still living at that time.
