BIOGRAPHY

K. I. was born in Akkeshi, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, on 8 November 1911.

She spent her life in Hokkaido and was widely respected as a master of shigin, a traditional form of Japanese poetry recitation. For many years, she taught shigin and participated in competitions. She was also highly skilled in sashiko, a traditional Japanese embroidery technique, which she continued practicing into her 90s. According to her family, she often sketched patterns onto bleached cotton cloth (sarashi) before carefully stitching the designs. Several of her handmade pieces are still preserved and cherished by her relatives.

Within her family, she is remembered for her gentle nature and thoughtful hospitality. She helped dress her grandchildren in yukata for local festivals, enjoyed visits to hot springs, and always kept sweets and ice cream on hand for guests. These routines reflected the warmth and kindness that characterized her way of life.

While living at home, she maintained a structured and healthy lifestyle. Her daily routine—including wake-up time, meals, and bedtime—followed a consistent schedule. Her diet mainly consisted of light, home-cooked Japanese meals with minimal use of oil. One of her specialties was pickled radish, which she prepared herself and shared with others when it was ready. Weather permitting, she took daily walks and continued practicing shigin, sustaining both physical activity and personal interests well into old age. Her family believes these habits may have contributed to her longevity.

As of June 2025, K. I. is living comfortably in a medical facility, where she is receiving nursing care and remains in stable condition.

RECOGNITION

In September 2023, she was the fourth-oldest living person in Hokkaido Prefecture, after Tane Matsubara, an anonymous lady from Sapporo, and Fumie Matsuda.

Following Matsubara’s passing on 16 January 2024, K. I. became the oldest living person in Hokkaido Prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Yumi Yamamoto and Yu Li, and validated by LongeviQuest on 21 June 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

(All information about this woman’s biography was gathered through interviews conducted by LongeviQuest with her family.)

GALLERY