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Supercentenarian Profile

Tsuru Kobayashi

Born:

1900-08-23

Tachibana, Chiba Prefecture

Japan

Died:

2011-01-07

Tōnoshō, Chiba Prefecture

Japan

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Tsuru Kobayashi [Japanese: 小林ツル] was a Japanese supercentenarian.

BIOGRAPHY

Tsuru Kobayashi (小林ツル) was born in Tachibana Village (now Tōnoshō Town), Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on August 23, 1900, as the second daughter among seven siblings. She married into a farming family in the same village, where she raised five children while working in agriculture, and was later blessed with 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. However, two of her sons were lost to war and illness, and when she was 80, her husband also passed away. Later, her second daughter, who had been living with her, passed away when Kobayashi was 107. After that, she continued living at home with her granddaughter and her husband.

Her daily routine included waking up at 9 a.m., grooming herself, and spending the day relaxing in a floor chair in the living room. She never lay down during the day, and her meals always included rice and miso soup three times a day, with rolled omelets and bananas as staple dishes. She had no particular favorite foods, valuing the principle of eating anything with appreciation.

Even at the age of 109, she was able to bathe on her own. Known for her meticulous nature, she was thorough with cleaning. She never spoke ill of others, and her favorite phrase was “thank you,” always showing kindness and consideration to those around her. She had a gentle personality, enjoyed singing and dancing, and often watched music programs on television.

She continued weeding the garden until she was 100 and, even at 110, was able to walk with support. Kobayashi passed away from natural causes in Tōnoshō, Chiba Prefecture, on January 7, 2011, at the age of 110 years and 137 days.