BIOGRAPHY

Shun Suzuki was born in Japan on 25 September 1892. She lived with her family in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture. She became bedridden in 1988 at the age of 96 due to rheumatism, but other than being hard of hearing, was said to be very healthy for her age.

Suzuki’s mother and grandmother both lived to 94, both significantly longer than the average female lifespan for their times. Her son Chiyota, then 82, remarked “We must be a long-lived family.” She enjoyed reading the newspaper and watching TV, but by the age of 108, these activities had become difficult due to her rheumatism. In spite of that, when asked the date and day of the week, she was still able to answer with remarkable accuracy. She still had a healthy appetite and ate the same meals as the rest of her family.

Suzuki always looked forward to her twice-monthly visits from the mobile bathing service provided by the local government. A lover of conversation, she would listen intently to the drivers’ stories of local events, and once she began talking about her memories of the past, was said to be difficult to stop.

Shun Suzuki passed away in Kaminoyama, Yamagata Prefecture on 17 December 2004 at the age of 112 years, 83 days.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her death, she was the oldest person in Yamagata Prefecture.

ATTRIBUTION

* “県内の長寿「横綱」暮らしぶり、健康の秘訣は？” Yamagata Shimbun, September 8, 2000
* “最高齢は上山の112歳・鈴木志ゆんさん–県内高齢者ランキング/山形” Mainichi Shimbun, September 15, 2004, local edition/Yamagata
* “鈴木志ゆんさん死去　県最高齢112歳/山形” Asahi Shimbun December 18, 2004, Tokyo local edition/Yamagata

GALLERY