Moto Oka

BIOGRAPHY

Moto Oka was born in Batō Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan on 20 September 1897. She was blessed with nine children and 14 grandchildren. Until the age of 100, she lived with her family of five, including her eldest son and his wife.

Oka spent many years working in rice fields and engaging in other agricultural activities in Batō Town (later Nakagawa Town) in Tochigi Prefecture. She started smoking in her 30s at the urging of a friend. Although her family occasionally urged her to quit, she continued the habit, even smoking up to 40 cigarettes a day at the age of 100.

Despite her long-term smoking habit, Oka had no abnormalities with her body or lungs even at 100 and remained remarkably independent. She was able to bathe herself each night and even did light exercises after bathing. Although she was hard of hearing, her daily routine included watching TV, going for walks, and sewing.

In September 2006, she was featured in an MHLW press release as “a lively and polite person with her own unique rhythm of life.”

Moto Oka passed away on 7 March 2008, in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan due to old age, at the age of 110 years and 169 days.

RECOGNITION

As of 2005, she was the oldest person in Nakagawa Town.

Following the passing of 110-year-old Take Ōtawara of Nasushiobara City on 4 November 2007, Oka became the oldest living person in Tochigi Prefecture. She held the title for four months, until her own passing in March 2008, when she was succeeded by Aki Onozaki.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 25 November 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “88歳夫婦、95歳、99歳以上の高齢者に祝詞・記念品” – Public Relations Bato No. 363 (10 October 1997, issue)

* “100歳以上、過去最多159人に　今日敬老の日/栃木” – Asahi Shimbun, 15 September 1998

* “109歳以上の高齢者” – MHLW, September 2006

GALLERY

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