Chiyono Ōta was born in Onoda Town, Miyagi Prefecture on November 1, 1896.

She grew vegetables in her fields until she was about 85, and did household chores until she injured her leg at 98.
From the age of 98 she was mostly bedridden, but she enjoyed talking about the fields and singing songs with her guests and family.

Her favorite food was popsicles. From her 110th birthday onwards, she was given a popsicle every year on her birthday by the town mayor.

She died of natural causes at a hospital in Miyagi Prefecture on January 25, 2010 at the age of 113 years and 85 days. She was the 11th-oldest living person in the world and the second-oldest living person in Japan behind Kama Chinen.