BIOGRAPHY

Fuchie Sasaki was born in Ōdate, Akita Prefecture, Japan, on 10 September 1912. At some point, she got married, had five children, and moved to Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture.

As of January 2022, she had nine grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and one great-great-grandchild. Sasaki moved into a nursing home for the elderly in Hachinohe City sometime before January 2022.

Sasaki’s diet revolved around fish and vegetables from a young age. Throughout her life, she hardly ever consumed meat. It wasn’t until the age of 109 that she tried nikujaga, a Japanese meat and potato stew, for the first time. Finding it exceptionally delicious, she commented, “I wish I had tried this sooner.”

Reflecting on his mother’s life, Sasaki’s son mentioned that her cooking was low in salt, her body remained robust even in old age, and she never experienced serious illness. Sasaki herself expressed that interacting with and seeing her family brought her the greatest joy in life. Reportedly, she felt down when unable to receive visits due to coronavirus restrictions in Japan. These restrictions were lifted in October 2021.

Sasaki passed away of natural causes at the nursing home in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, Japan, at 03:35 AM on 22 February 2024, at the age of 111 years, 165 days.

RECOGNITION

Her age was verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), as well as Yu Li, Yumi Yamamoto, and Jack Steer, and validated by LongeviQuest on 5 December 2023.

ATTRIBUTION

* Yomiuri Shimbun, 1 January 2022

* “【訃報】佐々木フチヱさん死去 111歳、八戸市最高齢者” – デーリー東北デジタル, 27 February 2024

GALLERY