Chiyo Shiraishi was born in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan on August 6, 1895, the sixth of seven children.

When she was 19, she married a teacher, moved to Ibaraki, and had six children. After her marriage, she worked in the tobacco industry and in silk farming.

At the age of 107, she became the oldest person in Ibaraki Prefecture.

Her routine consisted of reading the daily newspapers and watching sumo wrestling on TV. After the age of 108, she spent more and more days in bed, but on the days when she had guests, she changed into a kimono and greeted the guests, which showed her consideration for others.

She lived in her home with her eldest daughter Teiko, 93, and her grandson Katsuhiko, 64, until she died on 19 November 2009, at the age of 114 years, 105 days.