Yoshi Ōbuchi

BIOGRAPHY

Yoshi Ōbuchi was born in Noshiro City, Akita Prefecture, on 22 October 1905. After marrying, she lived with her husband in another region for many years before they eventually returned to her hometown of Noshiro around 1974. They settled in the Ōmachi district of the city. Her husband passed away around 1965. After his death, Ōbuchi ran a clothing store for a time.

Due to health issues, she later entered a hospital and had been living there since approximately 1975. She enjoyed playing musical instruments such as the piano, shamisen, and koto. Her niece, Yuki Segawa (aged 80 at the time), who resided in Kanagawa Prefecture, recalled being gently taught how to play these instruments by Ōbuchi when she was a child. Segawa described her aunt as a courteous and refined woman who was well liked by everyone around her.

Ōbuchi passed away from pneumonia at a hospital in Noshiro on 16 December 2015, at the age of 110 years, 55 days.

RECOGNITION

Following the passing of 109-year-old Masaji Ishikawa (20 February 1905 – 3 July 2014) of Kamikoani, she became the oldest living person in Akita Prefecture. Following her death, the title of the oldest known living person in Akita Prefecture passed to Hatsu Satō of Kazuno City.

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Ryohei Asano, and validated by LongeviQuest on 10 July 2025.

ATTRIBUTION

* “大渕さん死去、110歳　能代市、県内最高齢” – Akita Sakigake Shinpo, 22 December 2015

GALLERY

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