BIOGRAPHY

Kazue Takada was born in Ōya Village (大谷村), Kaho District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 13 March 1904, in the area that is now Kōbukuro, Iizuka City. Together with her husband, Sashichi Takada, she operated a family business producing and selling udon noodles in what was then Honami Town. She often delivered the noodles herself, pulling a rickshaw.

During World War II, she was engaged in udon production and sales in Manchuria. Takada attributed her longevity to having worked diligently since her youth, saying, “Because I worked hard every morning and evening.” She enjoyed singing and dancing, and despite some hearing difficulties later in life, she often sang Hokkyoku no Haru during recreation activities at the group home.

At age 106 (107 under the Japanese traditional counting system), she was celebrated as the oldest resident of Iizuka City. On 3 September 2010, the deputy mayor visited her at her group home to present her with congratulatory gifts and a certificate of longevity.

Takada passed away on 15 July 2014, at the age of 110 years, 124 days.

RECOGNITION

By September 2012, Takada was 108 years old and ranked as the 8th oldest person in Fukuoka Prefecture.

By September 2013, she had reached 109 years of age and became the 4th oldest person in the prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 10 July 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “長寿者訪問” – Iizuka City Public Relations Bulletin, October 2010 issue

* “最高齢者：飯塚市は106歳　高田さんに長寿祝い送る/福岡” – Mainichi Shimbun, 4 September 2010

GALLERY