BIOGRAPHY

Fumiko Kubo was born in Japan on 2 January 1915.

Before moving into a nursing home, she enjoyed playing gateball, practicing shigin (a form of traditional Japanese poetry recitation), and working in her vegetable garden. According to her family, she maintained a routine of eating well, sleeping soundly, and smiling often. Kubo was also a skilled cook. Her signature dishes included inari sushi packed with various ingredients, handmade dumplings with wrappers she prepared from scratch, and yomogi mochi (mugwort rice cakes).

In September 2024, she went out for lunch with her family. With the cooperation of the nursing home staff and the restaurant, she was served a special full-course meal featuring these favorite homemade dishes. She also kept a handwritten list titled “How to Scold Well,” which outlined principles such as not scolding someone in front of others and offering corrections while conveying warmth through physical touch.

Fumiko Kubo passed away in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on 11 May 2025, at the age of 110 years, 129 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Marco Wikkerink and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by LongeviQuest on 9 June 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY