Yukiko Nakao of Fukuoka, Japan, Celebrates Her 110th Birthday
Yukiko Nakao of Fukuoka, Japan, Celebrates Her 110th Birthday
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BIOGRAPHY

Miyuki Sone was born in Furubira, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, on 10 March 1913, as the third daughter among five siblings. Around the age of 20, she married a distant relative of hers, a fisherman, and she moved to Toyama Prefecture to live with him. She was very close to her siblings, prompting them to eventually move from Hokkaido to Toyama in order to live closer to her. She had seven children. However, following the birth of her youngest child in 1947, she sustained an injury to the base of her foot, causing her to walk with a slight limp. While it is culturally uncommon for spouses to address each other by their first names in Japanese households, her husband remained in the habit of calling her by her name until he passed away at the age of 75. As her husband worked as a fisherman, she assisted him in running a fish shop. Her mother lived to be 92, and her siblings reached their late 80s to 90s.

Her eyesight was successfully restored through cataract surgeries performed at the ages of 92 and 96, enabling her to read newspapers without the need for glasses until she reached the age of 110. Until she surpassed 100 years of age, Sone had never experienced any significant health issues. However, in November 2018, she was hospitalized due to fluid in her lungs but was discharged a month later. In December 2022, she contracted Covid-19, and despite her doctor having a serious conversation with her family, she has since made a full recovery.

In June 2023, while maneuvering her wheelchair independently, she had a fall resulting in a skull fracture. Typically, such injuries would require surgical intervention to mend the broken bones. However, due to her advanced age, her doctor decided against surgery, and she was discharged the following day. Despite the visible scars on her face and the pain she endured, her spirits remained undiminished. She even recounted the incident to her family with a touch of humor, saying, “When I fell, I heard my head crack, and it hurt!” As of September 2023, she wears a helmet to safeguard her head. She communicated with her visiting family through written messages.

Miyuki Sone passed away on January 30, 2024 at the age of 110 years and 326 days.

 

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Nature Made

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RECOGNITION

In September 2023, she was reported as the oldest living person in Toyama Prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Yumi Yamamoto and Takehiro Shibuya, and validated by LongeviQuest on 6 October 2023.

Upon her passing, Sumiko Takemaru succeeded her as the oldest living person in Toyama Prefecture.

ATTRIBUTION

(All the information regarding Miyuki Sone’s biography was gathered through interviews conducted by LongeviQuest with her family.)

* Toyama Prefecture Press Release, 15 September 2023

* “100歳以上 県内は970人” – Kitanihon Shimbun, 16 September 2023

GALLERY

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