BIOGRAPHY

Minoe Kageyama was born in central Osaka on 5 November 1905. During World War II, she and her family temporarily evacuated to Kobayashi City in Miyazaki Prefecture. That connection led them to move there for good in 1949, when she, her husband, and their only daughter relocated from Osaka.

Kageyama started working as a hairdresser in the early Shōwa era (around the 1930s) and continued for over 50 years—right up until she was 92. Her career not only supported her family but also kept her hands nimble and her aesthetic sense sharp. After losing her husband to illness, she found comfort in crafts, which gave her both creative joy and emotional support.

At 85, she took up making straw ornaments shaped like animals from the eto (干支 – the twelve-year zodiac cycle in Japanese and Chinese tradition, including animals like the rat, ox, tiger, and more). She began this yearly tradition to let her relatives and friends know she was still doing well. Every New Year, she made around 30 of these charming decorations, working at a pace of three a day. She used straw gifted by people she knew, carefully dried and stored, and shaped it into boars, mice, turtles, cranes, and more—each carrying meaning and seasonal cheer.

Even in her 90s, Kageyama never stopped caring about how she looked. She once shared that when she caught sight of her reflection in a shop window while out, she would instinctively straighten her back—a small habit that showed how much she still valued her appearance. She stayed active by joining hobby groups and volunteer activities, and even gave demonstrations at local events, sharing her straw craft skills with others.

When she was 108, her routine was still relaxed but full of little pleasures. She usually got up around 10 a.m. and loved starting her day with French toast and a cup of café au lait. She spent about half of each month in short-term stays at a nursing home, and the rest at home with the help of visiting caregivers. Though her hearing had declined a bit, she remained sharp and cheerful. Her daughter Hiroe, who lived with her, said her mother’s long life probably came from her strong will and habit of doing things on her own.

Kageyama believed in eating well and made sure to include all food groups—vegetables, fruits, fats, protein, grains & starches, and dairy—every day. She also had a sweet tooth and enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV.

Minoe Kageyama passed away on 1 April 2016, at the age of 110 years, 148 days.

RECOGNITION

In June 2014, after 109-year-old Chiharu Ōyama of Kawaminami passed away, Kageyama became the oldest living person in Miyazaki Prefecture. She was celebrated by local officials’ multiple times, including on her 108th and 109th birthdays, and received letters of commendation and thoughtful gifts.

After her passing, Tame Yamaguchi of Hyuga City, then aged 109, became the oldest living person in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 30 April 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* ““元気”の便りはイノシシ、小林市、蔭山さん　宮崎” Nishinippon Shimbun, 27 December 1994

* “県内最高齢の蔭山さん祝う” – Miyazaki Nichinichi Shimbun, 4 September 2014

GALLERY