Mitoyo Kawate
Encyclopedia
was a Japanese supercentenarian
and, at the age of 114 years 182 days, briefly the oldest recognized living person
after the death of either Kamato Hongo
(disputed) or Yukichi Chuganji
, both also from Japan.
A resident of Hiroshima
, she worked on a farm until injuring her hands at the age of 99. Another Hiroshima woman, Asa Takii (1884–1998), had also lived to age 114, and in doing so she had become the oldest in Japan, but Kawate is the oldest person in the city's history and the only one from there to become the oldest recognized living person. She was known for her fondness for custard
. In 1945, Kawate survived the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
.
She was taken to a hospital shortly before her death from pneumonia
. Her 'oldest person' reign of 13 days was the shortest on record at the time, breaking the previous record of 15 days set by American Florence Knapp
in 1988. In 2007, Emma Tillman
held the title for only four days, removing this dubious distinction from Kawate.
Her death left Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
of Puerto Rico
the oldest documented person in the world, though this was not recognized by the Guinness Book of Records
until 2004 (Charlotte Benkner
of the U.S. had been given the title in the interim).
Supercentenarian
A supercentenarian is someone who has reached the age of 110 years. This age is achieved by about one in a thousand centenarians....
and, at the age of 114 years 182 days, briefly the oldest recognized living person
Oldest people
This is a list of tables of the verified oldest people in the world in ordinal rank, such as oldest person or oldest man. In these tables, a supercentenarian is considered 'verified' if his or her claim has been validated by an international body that specifically deals in longevity research, such...
after the death of either Kamato Hongo
Kamato Hongo
was a Japanese supercentenarian and apparently the world's oldest recognized living person from March 2002 until her death. Aged 116 years 45 days at the time of her death, she was the last remaining documented person born before 1889.-Biography:...
(disputed) or Yukichi Chuganji
Yukichi Chuganji
was a Japanese supercentenarian and "...was recognised by Guinness World Records as the oldest man..." in Japan until his death at age 114 years 189 days....
, both also from Japan.
A resident of Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, she worked on a farm until injuring her hands at the age of 99. Another Hiroshima woman, Asa Takii (1884–1998), had also lived to age 114, and in doing so she had become the oldest in Japan, but Kawate is the oldest person in the city's history and the only one from there to become the oldest recognized living person. She was known for her fondness for custard
Custard
Custard is a variety of culinary preparations based on a cooked mixture of milk or cream and egg yolk. Depending on how much egg or thickener is used, custard may vary in consistency from a thin pouring sauce , to a thick pastry cream used to fill éclairs. The most common custards are used as...
. In 1945, Kawate survived the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
During the final stages of World War II in 1945, the United States conducted two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, the first on August 6, 1945, and the second on August 9, 1945. These two events are the only use of nuclear weapons in war to date.For six months...
.
She was taken to a hospital shortly before her death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
. Her 'oldest person' reign of 13 days was the shortest on record at the time, breaking the previous record of 15 days set by American Florence Knapp
Florence Knapp
Florence Knapp is the name of:* Florence Knapp , US supercentenarian* Florence E.S. Knapp , US politician and New York Secretary of State...
in 1988. In 2007, Emma Tillman
Emma Tillman
Emmaline "Emma" Fanchon Tillman, was an American supercentenarian and, at age 114 years 67 days, the oldest validated living person from January 24, 2007 until her own death four days later. She was the last remaining documented person born in 1892....
held the title for only four days, removing this dubious distinction from Kawate.
Her death left Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan
Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan de Soler was a Puerto Rican supercentenarian, and, according to documents compiled in March 2004, the oldest documented person in the world after the death of Japanese woman Mitoyo Kawate, although German American woman Charlotte Benkner, who was about 3½ months...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
the oldest documented person in the world, though this was not recognized by the Guinness Book of Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
until 2004 (Charlotte Benkner
Charlotte Benkner
Charlotte Benkner née Enterlein was an American supercentenarian and the oldest verified living person from November 2003 until sufficient documentation was found to validate the age of Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan of Puerto Rico in March 2004...
of the U.S. had been given the title in the interim).