Ibaraki Prefecture Archives

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Aiko Ōkubo at 110 years old. She was a Japanese supercentenarian born on 28 January 1913 in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

In 1934, she was married to a technical civil engineering officer from the Ministry of Home Affairs (now the Home Ministry of Japan). She had four children with him.

In 1938, the family travelled across the sea to live in Manchuria, Northeastern China, which was a puppet state of the Japanese empire. Aside from enduring extreme temperatures during winter, the family also had to endure too many hardships such as their 20 km walk to Dashiqiao. They even got bundled into a freight train going north wherein they jump off the train because they don’t know where they are going. After a long, perilous journey in China, the family managed to get into a boat bound for Japan. They arrived at Maizuru City, Kyoto Prefecture, in June 1946.

Aiko tried to return to her hometown in Mito but found it completely burned down. On the other hand, her husband’s family was safe and unharmed, and so he inherited his family’s construction business.

In August 2014, aged 101.
(Source: ibjcp.gr.jp)

Aiko travelled around Japan to visit nursing homes and give talks about her experiences. She would also play her Nagoya harp for them. Aiko did this until she was 104 years old.

Mrs. Ōkubo was proud that she was able to raise fine and well-rounded children despite the hardships that they had to go through in China. One became a university professor, the other became a doctor, and the third managed a private elderly care facility.

Mrs. Ōkubo passed away on 22 September 2023 in Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

For more information, please visit Aiko Ōkubo’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is delighted to announce the age validation of Nobu Kōno at 112 years old. She is a Japanese supercentenarian recognized as the oldest living person in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City. She was also reported as the second-oldest living person in Kanagawa Prefecture

Nobu Kōno was born on 28 March 1911 in Omitama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

After she graduated from elementary school, she spent her time working as a babysitter in a mansion in Tokyo. It was a common practice among Japanese girls during that era.

Around 21 years old, Nobu got married to someone and went on to have five children.

In August 2023, aged 112.
(Source: Courtesy of the nursing home)

She reiterated many hardships that her family had to endure during World War II. She experienced having the need to plant sweet potatoes and other vegetables on Tsurumi Riverbed because of lack in food supplies. They also had to evacuate to Yamanashi when the Kanagawa Air Raid emerged. After the war, her family returned to Kanagawa where she focused on raising her children as a housewife.

She started to live independently after her husband passed away in 1978. Her home was situated on top of a steep hill that she needed to climb daily which made her legs and hips stronger. However, when she was 105 years old, she got aspiration pneumonia which forced her to move into a nursing home. At age 112, she is still capable of feeding herself without any assistance.

Nobu Kōno currently lives in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. In September 2023, she was recognized as the oldest living person in Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City.

For more information, please visit Nobu Kōno’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Japanese supercentenarian Hiro Fujisaku at age 111.

Hiro Fujisaku was born in Japan on 6 May 1911.

Regardless of being over 100 years old, she still worked hard in the fields while being committed to tending to her home garden. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she talked about eating plain food with a vegetable and fish-based diet.

In September 2011, aged 100, being visited by the Mayor.
(Source: Ibaraki Shimbun)

On 4 September 2011, the mayor of Hitachinaka City visited Hiro Fujisaku at her home to celebrate her longevity.

Hiro Fujisaku passed away on 30 November 2022 in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. She was 111 years old at the time of her death.

For more information, please view Hiro Fujisaku’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce the age validation of Motoi Fukunishi (Japanese: 福西基) of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. He was born in Soudou (present-day Shimotsuma), Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan on 25 March 1910 and passed away in Shimotsuma on 22 August 2020 at the age of 110 years old.

Mr. Fukunishi was a teacher by profession for 39 years in total, serving as both an elementary and middle school principal for some time. After retiring, he took over as director of Shimotsuma Shoutomo Kindergarten in Shomutsuma City and remained the principal until the age of 105. He was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays alongside Rosette in 1988. He was later reported to be the oldest living recipient of the honor in Japan.

In his late 90s.
(Source: Japanese Wikipedia)

On 27 March 2020, two days after turning 110, he became the oldest living man in Ibaraki Prefecture, following the death of 110-year-old Takeshi Hanawa of Hitachiomiya. On 11 August 2020, following the death of 110-year-old Shōjirō Shirai of Shiga Prefecture, he became the oldest living man in Japan until his own passing on 22 August 2020. He was then succeeded by Mikizō Ueda.

Mr. Fukunishi’s age was also verified by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW).

LongeviQuest congratulates his family on his posthumous recognition.

For more information, please view Mr. Fukunishi’s Directory Profile here.

LongeviQuest is pleased to announce that it validated the age claim of Seki Yoshida at 113 years old. She was born on 4 January 1910 and currently lives in Japan.

Seki Yoshida being featured on their local PR papers.

The hometown of Seki Yoshida celebrated her 100th birthday last 2009 by featuring her in the November 2009 and October 2010 issues of their local Public Relations paper. Seki Yoshida became the 7th-oldest living person whose age has been validated in Japan.

For more information, please view Seki Yoshida’s Directory Profile here.