Eki Takakura (高倉ヱキ)

BIOGRAPHY

Eki Takakura (高倉ヱキ) was born on 10 February 1864 (3 January, Bunkyū 4), in Zaitsu Village, Hita District, Bungo Province, Japan (present day Hita City, Oita Prefecture).

At the age of 16, she married and moved to Amagase Village (now Amagase), where she had four sons and two daughters. She was known for her strong competitive spirit and took pride in being the best in the village at cooking, sewing, and farm work. After the age of 90, she learned the Iroha karuta (a traditional Japanese card game based on proverbs), and even after turning 100, she remained active throughout the day, engaging in needlework, laundry, helping with cooking, rope making, and straw sandal crafting.

In terms of diet, she disliked meat and dark fleshed fish (such as mackerel and horse mackerel), but was fond of white fish, crab, and noodles. She also ate simmered shrimp and kelp daily. She also had a habit of drinking alcohol, including shōchū, three times a day with her meals, which she continued until the age of 110. She even kept alcohol by her bedside, referring to it as medicine.

Regarding her health, she reportedly suffered a serious illness at the age of two, but remained in good health thereafter, aside from an appendectomy at the age of 92. She maintained a regular daily routine: in winter, she went to bed at 7 p.m. and woke at 6 a.m., and in summer, she went to bed around 10 p.m. and woke at 5 a.m. After waking, she would comb her hair and use her great granddaughter’s cosmetics to prepare herself. She dyed her hair black once a month, and since her daughter Dai had gray hair, they were sometimes mistaken for each other.

Her habits for longevity included drinking hot water instead of tea and avoiding snacks. She enjoyed watching sumo on television and spending time caring for her great-great-grandchildren.

According to 大分合同新聞 (Ōita Gōdō Press), she passed away at noon on 19 July 1974, at the age of 110 years and 159 days, due to arteriosclerotic heart disease.

She had 23 grandchildren, more than 69 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

As of September 1965, she was the oldest living person in Oita Prefecture.

At the time of her death, she was the third-oldest known person in Japan, following Mito Umeda and Niwa Kawamoto.

Her age was verified by MHLW, Japan, Ryohei Asano and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by LongeviQuest on 7 April 2026.

ATTRIBUTION

• We, the Centenarians (われら百歳) ― 1967, Ie no Hikari Kyokai（家の光協会）
• Overview of Events Commemorating the Meiji Centennial (明治百年記念関係行事等概況), MHLW, Japan
• Directory of Japanese Centenarians (百歳人名鑑), MHLW, Japan
• “百歳でこの元気” – Ōita Godo Press, 14 September 1965
• “106歳の高倉エキさん まだまだ針仕事も” ― Ōita Godo Press, 15 September 1970
• “長寿県一の高倉エキさん 起きるとまず化粧” ― Ōita Godo Press, 16 September 1971
• “晴れやかに百八歳 長寿全国三位 天瀬町の高倉ヱキさん”― Ōita Godo Press, 15 September 1972
• “109歳 酒もおしゃれもまだまだ 天瀬町の高倉エキさん”― Ōita Godo Press, 15 September 1973
• “全国長寿3番目 高倉ヱキさん死去 110歳の大往生”― Ōita Godo Press, 23 July 1974

GALLERY

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