BIOGRAPHY

Ueda was born in Higashi Tsuno Village (now Tsuno-cho), Kochi Prefecture, Japan, on 1 August 1895. She was married and had nine children; she worked in agriculture until the age of 75.

In 1933, around the age of 38, Ueda left Kochi Prefecture and moved to Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture, with her family. During World War II, she evacuated to Tōgō town (now Hyūga City), Miyazaki Prefecture, before finally moving back to Nobeoka City sometime around the age of 87, circa 1982.

When she was 102, Ueda broke her right leg. She made a full recovery after undergoing an operation and attending physio sessions twice weekly.

In September 2003, at the age of 108, Ueda lived with her eldest daughter, then 83, in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. They met up with her fourth daughter and went for a walk at a nearby park every morning. Other than her blood pressure being slightly elevated at this time, she was reportedly in good health.

Ueda had a creative side, making decorative temari (lit. ‘hand ball’) until the age of 108. She enjoyed a small glass of sake every evening and brooked no fuss when it came to food. She took great joy in spending time with her family and loved to watch sumo wrestling on the television, having a particular fondness for distinguished sumo wrestler Takanohana Kōji, remarking, “It’s boring when he [Kōji] loses.” At the age of 110, she still lived with her daughter and, as far as available records show, never entered nursing care, displaying remarkable independence for a supercentenarian.

When asked about the secret to longevity, Ueda replied, “To eat and drink in moderation, and work to the best of your ability while you’re still able,” before adding, “My family being healthy is what makes me happiest in life.” On another occasion, she reported the secret to longevity as being, “Eating three square meals a day and no snacking.”

When asked about the secret to longevity, Ueda replied, “To eat and drink in moderation, and work to the best of your ability while you’re still able,” before adding, “My family being healthy is what makes me happiest in life.” On another occasion, she reported the secret to longevity as being, “Eating three square meals a day and no snacking.”

RECOGNITION

In September 2002, Ueda was reported as the oldest living person in Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture. The following year, she was the second-oldest living person in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Ueda became the oldest living person in Miyazaki Prefecture with the death of Miyazaki City’s Hisa Kurihara, 111, on 23 August 2005. In September 2005, Ueda was the fifteenth-oldest living person in Japan.

No stranger to the media or local dignitaries, Ueda was visited on at least four separate occasions by the city mayor in September 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006 in celebration of Respect for the Aged Day, and awarded congratulatory letters, gifts, and money.

Ueda’s age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 16 October 2005.

ATTRIBUTION

• 元気です！長寿バンザイ – Nobeoka City, Miyazaki Prefecture
• 宮崎県/意気盛ん　はつらつ高齢者「敬老の日」各地で催し – Nishinippon Shimbun, September 20, 2005 

GALLERY