On Saturday, September 26, LongeviQuest visited 111-year-old Tsuru Yamamoto (山本つる), the oldest resident of Tokyo’s Ota Ward, at her daughter’s home in Kanagawa, Japan. We brought flowers to celebrate her longevity during September’s month of honoring older adults and to hear about her daily life.
Tsuru follows a regular routine, attending a day service twice a week and receiving rehabilitation at home twice a week, along with visits from dental and nursing professionals. At home, she spends her time sitting in a chair and reading rather than napping. Her reading includes monthly magazines and the Kokin Wakashū, a classical anthology of Japanese poetry.
“I have forgotten so much about the past,” she told us early in our visit. “But each day of my life now feels truly precious to me. That is all.”
Although she said she felt a little embarrassed in front of the camera, Tsuru shared memories of her family and the pursuits she had enjoyed as we looked through family photographs and her artwork together.
The Hobby She Loved Most
Many of Tsuru’s haiga—paintings that combine pictures with haiku poetry—have been preserved in the home. While looking at her work, we asked whether haiga had been the hobby she had devoted herself to most.
“Yes…”
After a pause, she continued slowly and softly.
“I became so absorbed in it… and before I knew it… I’d come this far.”
She looked down slightly and smiled.
For Tsuru, calligraphy seemed to offer a way to express herself through her own handwriting. One of her works depicted the Seven Lucky Gods beneath the boldly written character for “treasure.” The strong lettering and softly painted figures felt like a warm expression of Tsuru herself.
Memories of Her Husband
Looking at a photograph of her husband, Tsuru modestly described him as “an ordinary person.” Yet she went on to speak of his sincerity, his kindness toward those around him, and his humanity. They had met through an introduction by a church pastor.
“I still think he was a wonderful person,” she said.
Her words conveyed a deep respect for him.
During our visit, Tsuru stood with the support of a walker and read aloud a haiku composed by her late husband, who had often been ill. She had written it out in her own hand:
生き延びて 今日の幸せ 十三夜
Having survived—
the happiness of today,
the thirteenth-night moon.
The “thirteenth-night moon” refers to Jūsanya, a traditional Japanese moon-viewing occasion on the thirteenth night of the ninth lunar month.
His poem, and her voice as she read it, conveyed his love for his family and the deep bond between them.
The Happiness of a Peaceful Day
Tsuru lived through the Great Kanto Earthquake and the war. Of the earthquake, she recalled above all how frightening it had been and how her family had done everything they could to protect her. During the war, she and her family evacuated to several places. Compared with her peaceful life today, those years now seem almost unreal to her.
“So many different things happen in a person’s life,” she reflected. “Times when everything is peaceful and uneventful are truly few.”
Later, we asked her, “What is happiness to you?”
“The day ends quietly. That kind of peaceful everyday life is truly precious to me.”
She also told us she hoped to live out her days in peace and calm, and that those peaceful times would continue for the rest of her life.
At the end of our visit, we shook hands and were surprised by the strength of her grip.
“Your hand is so warm,” she said. “It made me feel good.”
It was a warm moment for us, too.
“I truly feel happy with my life today,” she told us.
“The day ends quietly.” Listening to Tsuru, we felt how much a single day means to her at 111—living peacefully, savoring each day, and cherishing it as precious.
We sincerely thank Tsuru Yamamoto and her family for welcoming us into their home. We wish her continued good health, happiness, and many more peaceful days ahead.
Watch Our Visit with Tsuru Yamamoto
