Okagi Hayashi

BIOGRAPHY

Okagi Hayashi was born in the village of Tsumagi (now Tsumagicho, Toki City), Gifu Prefecture, Japan, on 2 September 1909, as the only daughter of a grain wholesaler.

After graduating from elementary school, she enrolled at Nakatsu Girls’ High School. At this point, she left her parents’ house and lived in a high school dormitory.

In her early 20s, Hayashi married an elementary school teacher who was adopted into the Hayashi family, allowing her to retain her maiden name. The couple initially lived in Hokkaido Prefecture, where their first son was born, before returning to Toki City to manage her family’s grain wholesale business. Together, they raised nine children.

From mid-life, Hayashi became very health-conscious. Each morning, she enjoyed drinking homemade green juice made from fresh vegetables grown in her garden and often prepared nutritious meals, including vegetable-packed curry rice and miso soup. She maintained an active lifestyle, exercising regularly with her husband. Into her 80s, she continued to cherish time with friends from her school days, enjoying hot spring trips and gardening together.

Hayashi has always valued creativity andattended calligraphy classes until her 90s, continuing it as a hobby even after moving to a care home at the age of 105. While residing in the care home, she occasionally obtained permission to go on day trips with her family and continued these outings until around the age of 110.

At the age of 112, she was still able to read newspapers and enjoyed completing puzzles. At the age of 115, her waking hours have become shorter, but she continues to participate in meals and events in a wheelchair. Her appetite remains strong, and she occasionally feeds herself using a spoon. In December 2024, she attended a Christmas party, wore a Santa hat, and ate cake on her own. When she receives picture postcards from her family, she expresses joy and carefully treasures them.

As of January 2025, Hayashi has 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Seven of her nine children are still alive.

RECOGNITION

On 24 June 2019, following the death of 110-year-old Tsuyo Wada, Hayashi became the oldest living person in Gifu Prefecture. She became the prefecture’s oldest resident ever after surpassing the age of Hisa Arai in April 2023.

Following the 23 August 2022 death of Fumi Hoshino, 113, Hayashi entered the top 10 oldest validated living people in Japan.

Upon the death of 114-year-old Hazel Plummer on 25 May 2023, Hayashi entered the top 10 oldest validated living people in the world. She moved up to ninth following the 4 July 2023 death of Ushi Makishi, eighth after the death of Fusa Tatsumi on 12 December 2023 – after which she became the second-oldest resident of Japan (after Tomiko Itooka), seventh upon the death of Edie Ceccarelli on 22 February 2024, sixth upon the death of Juan Vicente Pérez Mora on 2 April 2024, and fifth upon the death of María Branyas Morera on 19 August 2024. On 22 October 2024, following the passing of Elizabeth Francis, she moved up to fourth place.

In September 2023, she was honoured with a congratulatory plaque, a bouquet of flowers and a card of messages from fans worldwide by LongeviQuest to mark her 114th birthday.

On 29 December 2024, following the passing of 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka, she became the Oldest Living Person in Japan, as well as the world’s third-oldest living person, only after Inah Canabarro Lucas (Brazil) and Ethel Caterham (UK). At the time, she was 115 years and 118 days old. Hayashi is the first fully documented resident of Gifu Prefecture to be recognized as the nation’s oldest living person.