Yasu Kushima was born in Japan on 10 May 1901. At some point, she had children. She ran a stationery store at her home until she was in her 80s. As of 2011, at the age of 110, she had nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.

At the age of 103, aside from experiencing some difficulty in seeing and hearing, she maintained good health and shared three meals a day with her family. Grapes were her favorite food, and she had a fondness for coffee. Possessing a sharp mind, she excelled in calculations, a skill she regularly utilized during her years managing the stationary store. Even at the age of 106, she could recite a multiplication table. While residing at home, she enjoyed sitting in her living room, and engaging in conversations with friends from the neighborhood.

When asked about the secret to her longevity, she responded, “Not being fussy over food, maintaining a well-structured eating routine, and drinking lots of water.” In 2005, she moved into an elderly nursing home in Shimada City. Subsequent visits by city officials occurred at the home, where she received congratulatory gifts and money. Kushima actively participated in recreational singing activities at the home, and by the age of 109, despite being hard of hearing and completely blind, she could still engage in simple conversations with family and nursing home staff. Her grandson, Masahiro, visited her at the home every day.

Yasu Kushima passed away at her nursing home in Shimada City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 2 July 2012, at the age of 111 years, 53 days.