Yoshi Tanaka was born in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, on 17 April 1900. She reportedly recalled hearing the sounds of the Russian fleet firing their cannons off the shore of Hagi during the Russo-Japanese War in 1904. At the age of 20, she married the son of a family that produced kamaboko, a type of steamed seasoned fish paste, and together they had four daughters. At some point, she served as the head of a women’s association.

Tanaka’s husband passed away when she was 77. She lived independently for 27 years before moving into a nursing home for the elderly in Hagi City at the age of 104.

In September 2006, at the age of 106, she was visited by the city mayor in celebration of Respect for the Aged Day. She was presented with fruit, one of her favorite foods, along with a gift certificate. At the time, she was the oldest living person in Hagi City. Despite being slightly hard of hearing, she was reported to be in good health, speaking in a clear tone of voice. She even represented her nursing home during addresses at events. The mayor visited Tanaka twice more in celebration of Respect for the Aged Day; in September 2008 when she was 108, and in 2010 when she turned 110. On both visits, she was reported to be in good health. At the age of 110, she was the second-oldest living person in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Tanaka was known for living by a creed of always staying positive and doing her best. She enjoyed making jokes and had a cheerful personality. As of 2008, at the age of 108, she had four children, six grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. When asked about the secret to her longevity, she replied, “Not getting sick, and eating anything.” She expressed that the greatest source of happiness in her life was the good health of all four of her daughters.

Yoshi Tanaka passed away in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, on 12 July 2011, at the age of 111 years, 86 days.