Ikeda was born in Takashima Village (now part of Matsuura), Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, on 1 April 1904. She married Kazuyoshi Ikeda, who was from her hometown. At some point, she adopted and raised her niece.
At some point, she moved to Karatsu, Saga Prefecture. Later on in her life, she entered a special nursing home for the elderly. In April 2014, a celebration was held for Ikeda’s 110th birthday at her nursing home. When introduced wearing her kimono in front of a specially-erected folding screen covered with gold leaf, she was greeted with cheers from those in attendance. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she responded, “Eat your favorite foods and sleep when you feel like it.”
Ikeda passed away in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, Japan, on 8 June 2016, at the age of 112 years, 68 days.
On 9 November 2013, following the death of 110-year-old Kiyo Maeda, she became the oldest living person in Saga Prefecture.
Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Marco Wikkerink, and validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 11 October 2015.
At the time of her death, she was the second-oldest person ever to have lived in Saga Prefecture, following Chiyono Hasegawa. After her passing, Shigeyo Nakachi became the oldest living person in the Prefecture. Nakachi would eventually surpass Ikeda’s final age, as well as Hasegawa’s.
* “県内最高齢「皇寿」祝う 110歳池田ヌギさん笑顔” – Saga Shimbun, 11 April 2014
* “県内最高齢者亡くなる/佐賀県” – Asahi Shimbun