Sai Kitamura (北村サイ)

BIOGRAPHY

Kitamura (北村サイ) was born into a farming family on 4 March 1893 in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan. She had no biological children, but she adopted a child; she was known for her cheerful personality and caring nature, often helping out in the community by cutting the hair of local children.

Until around the age of 80, Kitamura remained remarkably active, even climbing nearby persimmon trees to pick fruit. After moving into a nursing home, she continued to enjoy chatting with the staff and strolling through the facility.

Kitamura passed away from pneumonia in Kashiwazaki City on 12 November 2003 at the age of 110 years, 253 days. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living person in Niigata Prefecture. Following her passing, Soyo Iwakura of the former city of Mishima (now part of Nagaoka City) became the prefecture’s oldest living resident.

RECOGNITION

Kitamura’s age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) on 4 June 2012 and later recognised by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

• “県内最高齢・１１０歳 北村サイさん逝く ８０歳まで柿もぎも＝新潟” － Yomiuri Shimbun, 15 November 2003
• “北村サイさんが死去　県内最高齢、柏崎の１１０歳” －Niigata Nippo, 15 November 2003

GALLERY

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