BIOGRAPHY

Kō Minakuchi was born in Japan on October 18, 1899. At some point, she had children.

Minakuchi moved into a nursing home for the elderly sometime before the age of 106. In September 2006, at the age of 106, she received a visit from city officials and was presented with a congratulatory letter and gifts from the prefectural governor in celebration of Respect for the Aged Day. Commenting regarding her longevity at this time, she said, “It’s like a dream that I was able to live this long.” Minakuchi lived permanently in a wheelchair after breaking her femur in an accident sometime around the age of 103, but other than being slightly hard of hearing, she was said to be in excellent health in her old age. Minakuchi enjoyed writing and was reported to be skilled with a pen. At the age of 106, she continued to write letters on her own. Her work was put up to decorate the walls of her nursing home.

Minakuchi passed away at her home in Gero, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, on 10 August 2011, at the age of 111 years, 296 days.

RECOGNITION

In August 2009, following the death of 110-year-old Kiyau Shimizu of Gifu City, she became the oldest living person in Gifu Prefecture.

On 13 October 2010, at the age of 110 years, 360 days, she surpassed the final age of Koyumi Inoue (1895–2006), potentially becoming the oldest person to have ever lived in Gifu Prefecture. This assertion excludes the unvalidated and undocumented claim of Sue Watanabe (1841?–1953). At the age of 111, Minakuchi surpassed Watanabe’s claimed final age, firmly establishing herself as the undisputed oldest person ever in the prefecture.

Upon her passing, Yasu Ogiso (7 March 1903 – 7 February 2013) of Ena succeeded her as the prefecture’s oldest living person.

On 3 July 2016, Hisa Arai surpassed Minakuchi’s final age, thereby becoming the new oldest person to have ever lived in Gifu Prefecture.

ATTRIBUTION

* “茶寿『長生き夢のよう』野中さん（古川）、水口さん（萩原）” – Chunichi Shimbun, 22 September 2016

GALLERY