Yoshiyo Bessho was born in Kanaya, Niimi City, Okayama Prefecture on April 1, 1904.

She was blessed with four children, but she lost her husband (Shuichi, 36) when she was 35.

After her husband’s death, she raised her children by farming, selling handmade rugs, and working on construction sites.

She didn’t dislike any food, she would eat anything, and when she was around 100, she used a pushcart to take a walk around the neighborhood every morning. It was also her hobby to tend to the primroses and daffodils in her garden.

As for the secret to her longevity, she said, “My family and neighbors take good care of me. Living a peaceful life is the secret to longevity.”

She broke her leg in 2007 and started needing help, meaning she had been in nursing homes since 2012. When she was 112, it was her routine to put on headphones and listen to the Hyakunin Isshu recital CD.

Yoshiyo Bessho died in Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, Japan on 8 April 2018, at the age of 114 years, 7 days.