Saki Kanda

BIOGRAPHY

Saki Kanda was born in Atago, Esashi (now part of Ōshū City), Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on March 26, 1903.
She married and raised one son and six daughters. She was later blessed with 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren. Kanda remained active into her late 90s, continuing to work on the farm well into her advanced years.

For many years, she ate natto with all three meals at home and reportedly had no major illnesses throughout her life.

On March 26, 2013, Kanda celebrated her 110th birthday at Seiwaen, a nursing home in Mizusawa Ward, Ōshū City, where she received warm congratulations from her family and staff. Dressed in a cute pink scarf, she appeared with a smile as her eldest daughter Riyo Oikawa (83), her sixth daughter Fusako Takahashi (64), and her grandson Akira Kanda (44) joined her in breaking open a ceremonial paper ball to mark her status as the oldest living person in Iwate Prefecture. When asked how she was feeling, she cheerfully replied, “Igasu” (“I’m feeling good” in local dialect), which delighted everyone present. She smiled and laughed during a celebratory dance performance by the staff.

Kanda became the oldest living person in Iwate Prefecture on December 23, 2011, following the death of Suma Tamagawa of Ninohe City at the age of 112.
She passed away on December 26, 2013, at the age of 110 years and 275 days. Following her death, Tae Itō of Hanamaki City succeeded her as the prefecture’s oldest resident.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 21 July 2014 and later recognized by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

• “１１０歳　気分「いがす」　県内最高齢　神田さん（奥州）誕生日” － Iwate Shimbun, March 27, 2013

GALLERY

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