Kesa Yamada (Japanese: 山田けさ) was a Japanese supercentenarian who has been the longevity recordholder of Gunma Prefecture since 2019. Her age has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and recognised by LongeviQuest (LQ).
Yamada was born in Yoshii-cho (now Takasaki City), Gunma Prefecture, on 30 March 1907 as a farmer’s daughter. At the age of 25, she married a farmer in Kanra, with whom she had six children.
During World War II, Yamada worked in sericulture and rice farming, continuing the latter until she was 80 years old.
At the age of 110, Yamada suffered a fall in her home, with the resulting injuries prompting her to move into a care facility. She became Gunma’s oldest resident upon the death of Masu Koido on 14 November 2018.
As of her 112th birthday, Yamada had over 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as two great-great-grandchildren. In April 2019, when Japan’s new era name was announced, Yamada wrote her new era name “Reiwa” with her brush pen and said, “I have nothing to say if the world continues to be peaceful.” That year, she surpassed the age of Mumeno Sakurai to become the oldest person ever from Gunma.
Yamada died on 15 August 2020 at the age of 113 years, 138 days. She was succeeded as the oldest living person in Gunma Prefecture by Naka Uchida, then aged 111.
Yamada’s age was verified by Yu Li, Takeo Inishie, and Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW), and was validated by the GRG on 25 August 2019.
