BIOGRAPHY

Kitai was born on 28 June 1887 in Japan.

At the age of 104, Kitai was visited by the mayor of Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, at the nursing home where she lived and was congratulated as one of the city’s centenarians. On 29 August 1995, the mayor visited her again to celebrate her longevity and presented her with a crane and turtle ornament, traditional symbols of long life in Japan.

By the age of 108, Kitai was using a wheelchair and spent her days watching television with other residents.

Kitai passed away at 7 a.m. on 28 October 1998 due to kidney failure at her nursing home in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture. She was 111 years, 122 days old.

RECOGNITION

On 12 February 1995, following the death of 107-year-old Masue Izawa, Kitai became the oldest living person in Osaka Prefecture. In June 1997, she celebrated her 110th birthday, becoming the first supercentenarian in the prefecture’s history.

In September 1998, Kitai was recognised as the sixth-oldest person in Japan by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW).

Kitai’s age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on an unknown date.

ATTRIBUTION

• “府内最高齢の北井シエさんらを堺市長が祝福　／大阪” Asahi Shimbun, 30 August 1995
• ”［訃報］北井シエさん　死去＝近畿最高齢者、堺市最高齢者　／大阪” Mainichi Shimbun, 29 October 1998

GALLERY