BIOGRAPHY

Kagaya was born in Akkashi, located in Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, on 18 February 1896 as the third of four daughters born to a fisherman and his wife. During her childhood, she would assist her father with kelp fishing. She took on babysitting jobs in her neighbourhood at the age of seven. At night time, she would gather kelp independently, dry it on the beach, and send it for shipment.

Kagaya was married at the age of 18; she and her husband would have 10 children together. She supported her family by working at a fish processing plant. Later in life, she would nostalgically tell the tales of the hardships she endured during this period to the staff at the nursing home she would go on to live in.

Before she became a centenarian, Kagaya moved into a nursing home for the elderly in Kushiro City. Around this time, she liked to help out by weeding the area outside the home. By 109, she reportedly had difficulty walking and spent most of her time in bed, but was otherwise said to be in excellent health. She enjoyed watching historical dramas on the television, but showed disdain when the channel was changed to baseball.

An avid knitter, when her condition permitted, Kagaya would knit dust cloths at her nursing home, and was even able to thread the eye of a needle without wearing her glasses at the age of 109. Discussing her hobby, she said “I don’t have a job, but I can’t just sit around doing nothing.” She showed no fuss when it came to food, and was particularly fond of crackers and salty snacks, and was still capable of removing fish bones from her food by herself in her old age.

Born in a time of hardship and poverty, Kagaya did not approve of waste and never threw things away if she could avoid it, once remarking with a smile, “I never threw my kimonos away, even when they got old. That’s why I have a lot of money saved up.” Her spirit of thrift and moderation was exemplified in an anecdote from an interview with a journalist for a newspaper article at the age of 109: When a nursing home staff member handed Kagaya three tissues to wipe her nose, she took one, wiped her nose, and neatly folded away the other two in her sewing box for later. Remarking on becoming the oldest person in Hokkaido, she said, “I’m pleased I lived this long, but it’s only because I keep being a nuisance to everyone,” indicating a humble character and a strong sense of consideration for others. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied decisively, “Working.”

Kagaya passed away in Kushiro City, Hokkaido, Japan on 12 October 2007 at the age of 111 years, 236 days.

Kagaya passed away in Kushiro City, Hokkaido, Japan on 12 October 2007 at the age of 111 years, 236 days.

RECOGNITION

Kagaya became the oldest living woman in Kushiro Subprefecture with the death of 104-year-old Sue Ogawa on 20 February 2000. By September 2005, she was the oldest living person in Hokkaido.

Kagaya’s age was verified by Japan’s Minsitry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 29 October 2006.

ATTRIBUTION

• 老いてますます元気　- Hokkaido Shimbun morning edition, September 18, 2005, page 27
• 釧路の加賀谷さん　秘訣「働く」 – Hokkaido Shimbun Evening Edition, September 15, 2006, page 15
• はつらつ長寿生きがい支え – Hokkaido Shimbun Evening Edition, September 13, 2005, p. 15

GALLERY