Soyo Iwakura (岩倉ソヨ)

BIOGRAPHY

Soyo Iwakura (岩倉ソヨ) was born in the former town of Mishima (now part of Nagaoka City), Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on December 15, 1894, as the daughter of a cooper. She married and had four sons and four daughters. Known for her diligence, she was always busy caring for her large family.

Around the age of 93, she returned to her own home from her second daughter’s residence in Saitama and later moved into a nursing home in Nagaoka City. Even after becoming wheelchair-bound, she enjoyed knitting in bed and taking strolls within the facility.

Following the passing of Sai Kitamura of Kashiwazaki City at age 110 on November 12, 2003, Iwakura became the oldest living person in Niigata Prefecture.

She passed away from pneumonia at a hospital in Nagaoka City on October 19, 2006, at the age of 111 years and 308 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 11 October 2005 and later recognized by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

• “県内最高齢１１１歳の岩倉さん死去＝新潟” － Yomiuri Shimbun, October 25, 2006

GALLERY

[crp limit=’4′ ]