BIOGRAPHY

Yamada was born in Yoshii-cho (now Takasaki City), Gunma Prefecture, on 30 March 1907 as a farmer’s daughter. At the age of 25, she married a farmer in Kanra, with whom she had six children.

During World War II, Yamada worked in sericulture and rice farming, continuing the latter until she was 80 years old.

At the age of 110, Yamada suffered a fall in her home, with the resulting injuries prompting her to move into a care facility. As of her 112th birthday, Yamada had over 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as two great-great-grandchildren. In April 2019, when Japan’s new era name was announced, Yamada wrote the new era name “Reiwa” with her brush pen and said, “I have nothing to say if the world continues to be peaceful.”

Yamada died on 15 August 2020 at the age of 113 years, 138 days.

RECOGNITION

On 14 November 2018, following the death of 111-year-old Masu Koido, she became the oldest living person in Gunma Prefecture.

Yamada’s age was verified by Yu Li, Takeo Inishie, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 25 August 2019.

On 18 October 2019, at the age of 112 years, 202 days, she surpassed the final age of Umeno Sakurai, becoming Gunma Prefecture’s oldest person ever.

Yamada was succeeded as the oldest living person in Gunma Prefecture by Naka Uchida, then aged 111.

ATTRIBUTION

• 広報かんら 29.10.1 Kanra Town, October 2017

• 広報かんら 30.10.1 Kanra Town, October 2018

• 広報かんら 2019.1.1 Kanra Town, January 2019

GALLERY