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Yone MinagavaJapanese centenarian, Guinness World Record holder
Date of Birth: 04.01.1893
Country:  Japan |
Content:
- Ene Minagawa - the Oldest Person in the World
- A Life of Hard Work and Resilience
- The Oldest Person in Japan and the World
- A Legacy and Family
Ene Minagawa - the Oldest Person in the World
Ene Minagawa, a Japanese centenarian, held the title of the oldest person in the world from January 28, 2007, until her own death. She was born on January 4, 1893, in the village of Akaike in the Fukuoka prefecture of Japan. By the time Japan suffered defeat in World War II, Minagawa was already over 50 years old.
A Life of Hard Work and Resilience
Minagawa became a widow at a young age and raised five children by selling flowers and vegetables in a mining town on the island of Kosyu. Despite her challenging circumstances, Minagawa remained a conscious and energetic individual until her final days. She had a great love for sweets and often shared them with those around her. Even in her advanced years, she enjoyed being in the company of others and would dance to the rhythm of music while sitting in her wheelchair. She frequently played the shamisen, a traditional Japanese musical instrument, and attributed her longevity to "good food and good sleep."
The Oldest Person in Japan and the World
In April 2005, after the passing of Ura Koyama at the age of 114, Minagawa became the oldest person in Japan. Then, on January 28, 2007, following the death of 114-year-old American centenarian Emma Tillman, she became the oldest person in the world. At the time of setting the world record, Minagawa was 114 years and 25 days old.
A Legacy and Family
Ene Minagawa passed away on August 13, 2007, at the age of 114 years and 221 days in a nursing home in Fukuti village. She outlived all four of her children but left behind six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. With her death, the title of the oldest person in the world was passed to Edna Parker, a 114-year-old centenarian from the United States.
