BIOGRAPHY

Matsu Sugiyama was born in Japan on 10 January 1907.

In her later years, Sugiyama resided in a nursing home within Fujieda City, Shizuoka Prefecture. By 2015, she had become the city’s oldest resident.

To celebrate her 108th birthday, a local tea preservation society presented her with hand-rolled tea. Though she was in a wheelchair at the time, she greeted the gift with her hands joined in appreciation. The nursing home also received an annual donation of soba noodles from a local shop at the end of each year. Even at age 109, Sugiyama enjoyed the soba one bite at a time, with the noodles thoughtfully cut into smaller portions by the nursing staff.

Sugiyama passed away from natural causes on 23 April 2017, at the age of 110 years and 103 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the passing of Sadako Watanabe on 21 March 2017, Sugiyama became the oldest known living person in Shizuoka Prefecture. The title of Shizuoka Prefecture’s oldest resident then passed to Fumi Eto, who was approximately one month younger.

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.

ATTRIBUTION

* “108歳祝いに手もみ茶を” – Shizuoka Shimbun, 10 October 2015

* “年越しそばで笑顔に” – Shizuoka Shimbun, 2 December 2016

GALLERY