Masumi Gotō

BIOGRAPHY

Masumi Gotō (後藤マスミ) was born in Japan on 15 February 1914.

At 102 years old, she continued to live independently, using a walker for shopping and regular clinic visits. She managed most of her own laundry and personal care, staying active by tending to her vegetable patch and participating in local festivals and events. On sunny days, she worked in the fields, pulling weeds and caring for her plants, while rainy days were spent knitting. She was particularly skilled at crafting acrylic scrubbers that could clean dishes without detergent, often gifting them to neighbors and close friends.

One of her daily routines was watching over elementary school children as they walked to school each morning. She memorized the names of the children in her community and had greeted them for decades with a warm, “Good morning. Be careful,” ensuring their safety as they passed by.

In September 2016, she was honored as one of six vigorous centenarians in Shimane Prefecture and received an award. She attributed her longevity to eating barley and millet rice as a child, believing it contributed to her robust health. She particularly enjoyed fish, with sashimi being her favorite dish. Even after moving into a care home, her passion for knitting remained strong, and at 109, she was still actively knitting.

RECOGNITION

On 18 August 2023, following the passing of 112-year-old Mitsuno Sawada of Matsue City, Gotō became the oldest living person in Shimane Prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by LongeviQuest on 19 February 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “タウンスポット邑南町/元気に野菜作り、編み物/中野の102歳　後藤さん/投稿見守り交流楽しむ” – Sanin Chūō Shimbun, 26 May 2016

* “平成28年度「しまね健康超寿者」受賞者一覧” – Shimane Prefecture, 2016

* “しまね健康超寿者　表彰　後藤マスミさん” – Ōnan Newsletter, September 2016

* iwamisakurakai

GALLERY

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