NAGOYA — The oldest person in Japan, 115-year-old Okagi Hayashi of Toki, Gifu Prefecture, still retains a healthy appetite, as demonstrated by her attendance at a Christmas celebration held last year at the nursing home where she resides, where she wore a Santa hat and enjoyed a slice of cake.
Hayashi raised nine children, including seven boys and two girls. Among them, her eldest and second sons have passed away. She also has 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren. Her youngest son, Minoru, 78, stated, “I hadn’t been able to visit her since November to avoid coronavirus and influenza infections, but I am relieved that she appears to be in good health.”
Hayashi was born on September 2, 1909, in the Tsumagicho district of Toki. She now resides in a nursing home within the city. As reported by staff at the facility, despite being asleep for increasingly longer periods of time, she still participates in meals and activities in her wheelchair, and occasionally eats with a spoon on her own.
After Tomiko Itooka, 116, from Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, passed away late last year, Hayashi became the oldest person in Japan.
Toki Mayor Junji Kato stated, “We are indeed thrilled to see Ms. Hayashi achieve the distinction of being Japan’s oldest inhabitant, and we are exceptionally proud to have her as one of our city’s residents. I wholeheartedly hope this remarkable milestone will serve as a source of inspiration to our community, promoting a sense of unity and ambition, ultimately cultivating an environment where everyone can live a long and contented life.”
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