BIOGRAPHY

Yoshi Matsumoto was born in Taminato (田港) in the village of Ōgimi, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, on 7 April 1914. Her parents were Fukutaro and Kame Maeda. She had five brothers and three older sisters. At the age of five, she moved to the Daitō Islands. Her father went first, followed by her mother, uncle, two siblings, and eventually, her. After completing her studies at the age of 16, she returned to her hometown of Taminato in Okinawa.

In 1933, she immigrated to Brazil. The journey took 58 days. The family arrived in Santos, São Paulo, then moved to Lins, where the family lived for two years before relocating to Marília—where they would make their permanent home.

She had five children: Paulo Toyoji Matsumoto, José Yassuho Matsumoto, Antônio Harutika Matsumoto, Mário Hironori Matsumoto, and Cristina Emico Matsumoto.

After the passing of her husband on 18 May 1951, she became more deeply involved in the Church. She was baptized into the Catholic faith on 8 December 1952, at the age of 38. She went on to raise and educate her five children—four of whom entered the seminary at the age of 12, and the youngest later became a missionary. From the time the Catholic Circle Estrela da Manhã was founded in 1958, she was one of its most dedicated and active members, playing a key role in strengthening the community.

On her 100th birthday in 2014, Yoshi’s family and friends gathered with Father Vinícius Augusto dos Santos Araújo, pastor of Santo Antônio Parish, and members of the Catholic Circle Estrela da Manhã to celebrate the occasion at the Matsumoto family farm.

Yoshi Matsumoto passed away in Marília, São Paulo, Brazil, on 6 April 2025, a day before her 111th birthday.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Gabriel Ainsworth, Stefan Maglov, and Filipe Lopes, and validated by LongeviQuest on 25 April 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Dona Yoshi completou 100 anos e continua atuante na pastora” – Jornal “No Meio de Nós” (edition 189), May 2014

* “Yoshi Matsumoto 104 anos” – TRB Produtora, 5 May 2018

* Yoshi Matsumoto – Prever Marília

GALLERY