BIOGRAPHY

Teru Hatakeyama was born in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, on 20 July 1905. She married at some point and lived in various places, including Obihiro, Hokkaido, and Tokyo. In 1943, during World War II, she evacuated to Ueda, Nagano, where she remained until the age of 93.

In 1998, Hatakeyama moved to Numata Town to live with her eldest daughter, who, as of 2015, was 86 years old and residing in Asahikawa, Hokkaido. Hatakeyama was known for her dexterity and skill in Japanese sewing, often taking on sewing work both during and after the war.

On her 100th birthday in July 2005, the mayor of Numata Town visited the nursing home where she lived to celebrate her longevity. Even after turning 100, Hatakeyama enjoyed hobbies such as knitting, calligraphy, and painting. For her health, she made it a habit to eat fruits like mandarin oranges and strawberries daily.

At the age of 105, she stayed mentally active by practicing dementia-prevention exercises, including solving math problems and writing kanji. Her caregivers noted that her vitality came from having no particular food preferences and maintaining open communication with those around her. Her family remarked that, despite experiencing poor health in her middle years, she had consistently worked to live a regular, balanced life. In 2015, after becoming the oldest person in Hokkaido, a celebration was held at her nursing home, where it was noted that, even at 110, she remained in good health, ate her meals with a spoon, and took joy in visits from her children.

Hatakeyama passed away from heart failure on 3 April 2016, at the age of 110 years, 258 days. She was survived by five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

RECOGNITION

On 28 August 2015, following the passing of 110-year-old Chiyo Watanabe of Wassamu, she became the oldest living person in Hokkaido Prefecture, at the age of 110 years, 39 days. Upon her own passing in April 2016, she was succeeded by Masazō Nonaka.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 14 October 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

* “計算や漢字書き取り「脳トレ」取り組む　畠山てるさん（105）沼田町” – Hokkaido Shimbun, 18 September 2010

* “旭寿園で畠山てるさんの108歳のお祝い” – Numata Town Public Relations, 24 July 2013

* “110歳畠山さんに祝い状” – Hokkaido Shimbun, 26 September 2015

GALLERY