BIOGRAPHY

Nozawa was born in Yoron, an island town in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on 9 February 1896. She was married and had children.

In her later years, Nozawa lived with her grandchildren and their families. As a supercentenarian, she was not sick, and would sleep for two days twice monthly.

Near the end of August 2007, Nozawa was hospitalised. She was discharged on 11 September to allow her to follow the Yoron Island tradition of spending one’s final days at home.

Nozawa died of old age on 12 September 2007 at 10:28 a.m.

RECOGNITION

Following the death of Nijiro Tokuda on 12 June 2006, Nozawa became Kagoshima Prefecture’s oldest resident. Upon her own death one year and three months later, the title passed to Chikao Beppu.

Nozawa’s age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 29 October 2006.

ATTRIBUTION

• MHLW, Japan
• “訃報：野澤マゴさん 111歳” – Mainichi Shimbun, 12 September 2007

GALLERY