Shige Mineshiba

BIOGRAPHY

Mineshiba was born Shige Yasui in Ama District, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on 18 May 1909. Her elder sister married into a prosperous steelworks family in Toda, Nagoya, which allowed her the opportunity to attend a girls’ school in the area. Her two sisters also lived long lives, reaching the ages of 109 and 104, respectively. She was part of the inaugural class of Ohka Girls’ High School in Nagoya and was chosen to represent the students during a visit by the Emperor’s daughter. She had the honor of presenting a formal recommendation of the high-rise when the imperial procession passed through Nagoya Station.

During the Great Kantō earthquake of 1923, she displayed compassion by traveling to Nagoya Station to cook meals for victims fleeing Tokyo. After graduating from High School, she met and married Ichiro Mineshiba in February 1931. In 1941, the couple adopted a six-month-old daughter, Kyoko. Her husband’s family ran a thriving business producing and selling Japanese sweets and rice cracker molds nationwide.

Before World War II, her husband ran a senbei (rice cracker) shop in Kyoto. However, when the war began, he decided to close the store. The shop was located on the approach to Inari Shrine, an area often crowded with people. Their daughter later speculated that her father closed the store out of concern for her safety, given the potential dangers in such a busy area during wartime. During the war, when their daughter was evacuated to Shiga Prefecture, she would make the arduous journey over the mountains to visit her once a month. For a time, she worked as a secretary for a doctor who dedicated his efforts to treating war widows and caring for war orphans in his large mansion. Later, she took on various roles, including working at a flower shop established by a former colleague, as well as in insurance and banking. Her husband studied and taught Noh recitation, but it did not provide enough income to support the family, so she had to work diligently to make ends meet.

In 1968, at the age of 60, she moved to Toronto, Canada, with Ichiro to join their only daughter, Kyoko, who was already living there. In 1979, the family moved to Vancouver, where Ichiro passed away in 1985.

At the age of 87, she suffered a myocardial infarction and had a stent inserted. The doctor informed her that there was no guarantee she would wake up from the anesthesia, but she regained consciousness after three or four hours. Until she was 83, she cooked all the meals. At 108, she only took medication for constipation and used ointment to prevent bedsores.

Mineshiba began experiencing dementia at the age of 100, and by 110, she spent most of her time resting in bed at home. However, she was still able to sit up and eat independently. Although she spoke only a little, her speech remained clear. In May 2019, on her 110th birthday, she received a congratulatory letter from Julie Payette, the Governor General of Canada. The letter honored her remarkable longevity, stating, “You have been a witness to an era of extraordinary change leading up to the space age and have gained valuable lessons that will only become clearer with time.”

RECOGNITION

On 13 January 2022, following the passing of 114-year-old Cecile Klein, she became the oldest living person in Canada, at the age of 112 years, 240 days. She held the title until her own passing in January 2023, when she was succeeded by the anonymous lady, born in July 1910.

On 7 April 2022, she became the last known person living in Canada born in the 1900’s decade, following the death of Yvonne Delorme-Martel.