Koyū Morita (森田コユウ)

BIOGRAPHY

Mrs. Koyū Morita (Japanese: 森田コユウ) was born in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, on 12 July 1913. At the age of 19, she married and moved to Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture. She had four children, though one passed away in early childhood. After her husband died of illness during World War II, she raised her three sons on her own while working in physically demanding jobs such as logging and tending a vegetable garden.

In her seventies, Mrs. Morita moved to Matsubara City in Osaka Prefecture to live with her second son’s family. Until about the age of 80, she continued to contribute to household chores and kept a steady daily routine of rising at 5 a.m., taking a brisk one-hour walk, and reading the newspaper. Knitting was one of her favorite pastimes, and she continued making sweaters, vests, and yarn scrubbers until around the age of 100.

She would never ate nattō, a food widely regarded in Japan as healthy, and was not particularly fond of most fish. Her daily meals were simple: rice and miso soup in the morning, and bread, hot milk, and fruit—especially mandarins—for lunch. She practiced moderation, never eating to fullness, following the Japanese custom of hara hachi bu.

Mrs. Morita remained in good health until her mid-100s. Even after a fractured femur, a stroke, and contracting COVID-19, she typically recovered within just a few days. At 105, she was still able to walk with a steady stride using a rollator, often moving faster than her family.

At 112, she has experienced vision loss due to cataracts but continues to feed herself with chopsticks or a spoon. During family visits, she listens attentively, recognizes voices, and engages in conversation with warmth. In recent times, she no longer needs oxygen support while sitting, and her health has improved.

In September 2025, ahead of Respect for the Aged Day (Keirō no Hi), she was officially recognized as the oldest known living person in Osaka Prefecture and received a congratulatory visit from the mayor of Matsubara City.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Osaka Prefecture, Yumi Yamamoto, and Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 21 September 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

(All information regarding Koyū Morita (森田コユウ)’s biography was gathered through interviews conducted by LongeviQuest with her family.)

GALLERY

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