BIOGRAPHY

Yashima was born on 22 January 1900 in Shiroishi City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. At the age of 22, she married and moved to Sendai, where she spent the remainder of her life.

At 108 years old, she was living with her eldest son and his wife. She received occasional short-stay support from local care homes, but remained at home throughout her later years. Despite using a wheelchair due to leg weakness, she remained bright and sociable—singing children’s songs and enjoying mealtimes with loved ones.

She credited her longevity to “eating without being picky and living without worrying too much.”

Yashima had a large and multigenerational family: seven children, 12 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. She passed away peacefully at her home in Aoba Ward, Sendai, on 13 April 2010 at the age of 110 years, 81 days.

RECOGNITION

In 2005, at age 105, she was visited and congratulated by the Mayor of Sendai. At that time, she was the second-oldest resident in the city.

In 2008, at age 108, she was officially recognized as the oldest living person in Sendai City.

On 25 January 2010, following the passing of Chiyono Ota at age 113, she became the oldest living person in Miyagi Prefecture. Upon her own passing, she was succeeded by Takeyo Endo (1 March 1901 – 31 December 2010) of Shikama.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 1 May 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* Zenkoku Kōreisha Meibo, September 2003

* “仙台市最高齢者　八島かめよさん死去” – Kahoku Shimpo, 14 April 2010

GALLERY