BIOGRAPHY

Sei Satō was born in the town of Kanō (now part of Gifu City), Gifu Prefecture, on 2 September 1914. She grew up in Kanō, which was once a thriving center for traditional Japanese umbrella (wagasa) production. Her father was an umbrella craftsman, and after completing elementary school, she helped with the frame construction process. She vividly recalled the sight of finished umbrellas drying in the yard and being carried into the air by strong winds—an image she shared with nursing home staff later in life.

In 1937, she married Akiji, a local factory worker. That same year, the Second Sino-Japanese War began, and her husband was later sent to Manchuria during World War II. Satō remained in Gifu with their three young children. Her eldest daughter remembered evacuating during the Gifu air raids. After the war, her husband returned safely, and the couple resumed work in the umbrella trade. However, the rise in popularity of Western-style umbrellas in the 1950s led to a gradual decline in the wagasa industry, which affected their household income. Even so, Satō later recalled that the time when her husband was with her and umbrellas were selling well was the happiest period of her life.

Satō was widowed in her 60s. She lived independently for many years, continuing to cook and shop for herself well past the age of 100. Even after moving into a nursing home, she used the in-house laundry facilities on her own.

She had no history of major illness until around age 108, when she was hospitalized for the first time. After being discharged, she temporarily used a wheelchair but later regained the ability to walk with the assistance of a walker. She regularly finished her meals, chose her outfits according to the season, and took part in recreational activities alongside other residents.

RECOGNITION

On 26 April 2025, following the passing of Okagi Hayashi, the nation’s oldest living resident, Satō became the oldest living person in Gifu Prefecture.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano and Yumi Yamamoto, and validated by LongeviQuest on 8 June 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “岐阜大正人（びと）の声　自力で歩く気概胸に　佐藤せいさん（１１０）　岐阜市・大正３年生まれ” – Gifu Shimbun, 25 May 2025

GALLERY