Masami Miyanoo (Japanese: 宮野尾 正三), a resident of Ogawa Village, Nagano Prefecture, Japan, is currently 110 years old, and one of the oldest living residents in the Prefecture.
LongeviQuest had the opportunity to conduct an interview with the family of Masami Miyanoo—through the nursing home where she currently lives.
Early Life
She was born on 12 January 1915 in Shinmachi, an area that later became part of Shinshu-Shinmachi, now within Nagano City. As a student, she enjoyed her classes and once hoped to become a schoolteacher. At the age of 20, she married into a farming household in Ogawa Village, where life followed the rhythm of the fields and the seasons. Her husband’s family managed many rice paddies and occasionally hired extra help during busy periods. Miyanoo worked alongside them as part of the daily routine.
Her husband died during the war at the age of 39. After his passing, she raised her two children while living with her parents-in-law and sisters-in-law. She later recalled those years as difficult. Her family describes her as someone who quietly endured what came her way.
Later Life
Fieldwork remained part of her life for many years. Even close to 100, she was still seen pulling weeds or tending small patches of land, moving in the way she always had.
At home, she enjoyed knitting and often learned new patterns quickly, making items for her family. She also read the newspaper regularly, keeping an interest in daily events well into her later years.
Hyakunin Isshu, a traditional Japanese poetry card game, was another part of her life. She once told her family she sometimes won against older players when she was young. In later years, she could sometimes be seen enjoying card-taking games with her grandchildren, responding with the quick attention the game requires.
She had few particular dislikes in food, although she rarely drank milk because the family kept cows.
Miyanoo moved into a nursing home in November 2020. For some time after moving in, she could walk with assistance and manage certain tasks on her own. She continues to express words of gratitude to the staff, who describe her as calm, gentle, and thoughtful in the way she speaks.
When speaking with many supercentenarians and their families, there are moments when someone mentions how much they enjoyed studying as a child. It is not something everyone says, but it comes up often enough to stay in mind. Miyanoo is one of those people. She enjoyed studying from a young age, and that early interest seems to echo in her later habits—reading the newspaper carefully each day and continuing to enjoy Hyakunin Isshu, a game that relies on memory and quick reactions, even at an advanced age.
Looking back over her life, it is marked by steady routines, years of physical work, and a consistent attentiveness to daily life. These patterns, maintained over many decades, may have contributed to her longevity.
LongeviQuest sincerely wishes Mrs. Miyanoo continued health and happiness.
