Supercentenarian Profile

Maka Yoshihama

Born:

1899-10-14

Ōgimi, Okinawa Prefecture

Japan

Died:

2010-01-12

Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture

Japan

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Maka Yoshihama (Japanese: 吉濱マカ) was a Japanese supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Maka Yoshihama was born in Kijoka, in what is now Ōgimi Village, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on 14 October 1899. She was a highly respected artisan of bashōfu, a traditional textile native to Kijoka and woven from banana plant fibers. From her youth, she wove bashōfu alongside farm and mountain labor, incorporating the craft into her everyday life. The bashōfu of Kijoka was designated an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Japan on 20 April 1974, and Yoshihama was officially recognized as one of its certified preservers.

Known for her skill and dedication, she played a key role in transmitting the craft and continued to mentor others until her 90s. Even after turning 100, she remained active, producing high-quality threads praised for their strength and fineness.

In her later years, she lived with her eldest daughter in Gushikawa City (now part of Uruma City), where she continued to spin fibers with remarkable dexterity. At age 99, despite impaired hearing and declining eyesight, she could still spin fibers with precision, relying on her sense of touch. Even at the age of 100, she began her weaving work every day after breakfast, took a one-hour break for lunch, and continued working steadily until evening. She worked for hours each day, saying that continuing to work brought her the most joy in life. With a smile, she added, “Playing is more boring.”

She also enjoyed reading the newspaper, checking headlines, and going on long drives to northern Okinawa. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied, “There’s nothing special—just eat everything and keep working.”

Maka Yoshihama passed away on 12 January 2010, at the age of 110 years, 90 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 8 July 2025.