BIOGRAPHY

Hatakeyama was born in Tsuzureko, Akita City, Akita Prefecture, on 4 March 1908. She married a local man and had a son, Takio, and a daughter. She would later have two grandchildren. She worked in agriculture and forestry, carrying lumber from felled trees down from the mountains.

Until the age of 108, Hatakeyama lived with her son Takio. In August 2016, she moved into a nursing home in Animaeda, Akita City. On her 110th birthday, she was visited by the city’s mayor, who presented her with congratulatory gifts and a bouquet of flowers.

As a supercentenarian, Hatakeyama was reported to live a peaceful lifestyle, spending lots of time in the communal living room. She slept a lot, but always ate heartily at mealtimes, disliking no foods and eating independently.

Hatakeyama died on 5 August 2020 at the age of 112 years, 154 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the 2 November 2016 death of Hatsu Sato, Hatakeyama, then aged 108, became Akita’s oldest resident.

In December 2018, Hatakeyama surpassed Tomi Hirano’s age of 110 years, 285 days to become the oldest known person ever in the prefecture’s history. Her longevity record for Akita was broken by Mitsuno Sato in September 2021.

Hatakeyama’s age was verified by Takeo Inishie and Yumi Yamamoto, as well as Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 22 March 2020.

ATTRIBUTION

• “畠山さん109歳おめでとう 北秋田市の最高齢　特養職員と利用者祝福” Akita Sakigake Shimpo March 10, 2017 Morning edition

• “＜ふきのとう＞県内最高齢、健やかに” Akita Sakigake Shimpo March 9, 2018 Morning edition

• “県最長寿 110歳お祝い 北秋田 畠山ミヨさん＝秋田”  Yomiuri Shimbun March 9, 2018 Tokyo morning edition

GALLERY