Tomi Hirano

BIOGRAPHY

Tomi Hirano was born in the former village of Mitsunashi (now part of Yuzawa City), Akita Prefecture, Japan, on March 18, 1903.
She married in 1923 and worked as a teacher at local elementary and junior high schools while raising three sons and three daughters. She retired from teaching at the age of 57 and was blessed with 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Since 1970, she had lived with her eldest daughter, Tomoko Murayama. At the age of 100, while living with her daughter’s family of seven, she remained active and was able to take care of her own daily needs. She attributed her good health to having no particular food dislikes and eating a well-balanced diet. She was also an avid reader of newspapers and weekly magazines and enjoyed composing haiku.

She was described as a gentle and nurturing person, beloved by both her students and her family. Reflecting her character, her husband once wrote a haiku in her honor:

“To every child, a kind mother – Adonis amurensis.”
(Dono ko ni mo yasashiki haha yo fukujusō)

The poem likens her to the fukujusō (Adonis amurensis), a cheerful and resilient flower that blooms in early spring.

Even after turning 100, she reportedly drank about one go (180 ml) of sake every day.
She later spent about ten years in a hospital after her health declined.
According to Tomoko, her mother commuted to work on foot, which helped strengthen her legs, and her longevity was likely supported by both that foundation and the excellent care she received at the hospital.

Hirano passed away in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, Japan, on December 28, 2013, at the age of 110 years and 285 days. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living person in Akita Prefecture.

RECOGNITION

Her age was validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 10 August 2014 and later recognized by LongeviQuest.

ATTRIBUTION

• “「満１００歳おめでとう」　湯沢市の平野さんに市と県から長寿祝い金” － Akita Sakigake Shimbun, March 19, 2003
• “県内最高齢、湯沢の１１０歳・平野さん死去” － Akita Sakigake Shimbun, December 30, 2013
• アトリエ和沙blog

GALLERY

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