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. 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 the new era name “Reiwa” with her brush pen and said, “I have nothing to say if the world continues to be peaceful.”

Yamada died on 15 August 2020 at the age of 113 years, 138 days.