| Shinobu Hayashi | |
 Shinobu Hayashi on 4 October 2022, aged 113. | |
| Birth: | 15 March 1909 Ueki, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Death: | 25 January 2023 Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan |
| Age: | 113 years, 316 days |
| Country: |  JPN
|
| Validated | |
Shinobu Hayashi [Japanese: 林シノブ] (15 March 1909 – 25 January 2023) was a Japanese supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography
Shinobu Hayashi was born in Ueki (present-day Kita-ku ward of Kumamoto City), Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan on 15 March 1909. She was the second youngest of six or eight siblings. Her brothers all died young, but one older sister lived to be 102 years old, and one younger sister lived to be 104 years old. She also had a good appetite. She did gymnastics at morning, and watched sumo wrestling at evening.
In 1932, she married Hiroki Hayashi. The couple had three children (two sons and a daughter). Around 1943, when she was 34, her husband died, and she was left to raise the children on her own. Until she turned 60, she walked 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) each way from her home to work at the Agricultural Experiment Station in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture every day.
When she lived at home, she loved cleaning and tidying up and never sat still.
At the age of 104, she moved into the Kikkoen Nursing Home [Japanese: 菊香園] in Koshi. She was able to walk on her own until she was 108. At the nursing home, she enjoyed watching TV, especially cooking shows and sumo matches. On her 110th birthday in March 2019, Hayashi was honoured by the mayor of Koshi, Yoshiyuki Araki. Following the death of Chie Ogata on 3 July 2020, she became the oldest living person in Kumamoto Prefecture.
According to the nursing home in Koshi where Hayashi lived, although she often slept in her bed recently, she said, “It was a very peaceful end,” and she said, “I would like to express my gratitude for the wonderful time we spent together.”
In October 2022, Hayashi was congratulated on her longevity by the Governor of Kumamoto Prefecture. At that time, Kumamon, a local character from Kumamoto Prefecture, also appeared, and she pointed at Kumamon and asked her granddaughter, “What is that?”
At 113, she had retained her cognitive abilities and she bowed deeply to the governor.
Shinobu Hayashi died in Koshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan on 25 January 2023, at the age of 113 years, 316 days. Following her death, then-109-year-old Miho Matsuzaki [Japanese: 松崎美保] of Kumamoto City became the oldest known living person in Kumamoto Prefecture.
Gallery
.jpg "Shinobu Hayashi 110 (2).jpg (24 KB)")
.jpg "Shinobu Hayashi Oct 2022 (1).jpg (357 KB)")
.jpg "Shinobu Hayashi Oct 2022 (2).jpg (409 KB)")
References
- 合志市初の１１０歳を祝う RKK熊本放送, 11 December 2019 (Archived)
- 県内最高齢 太宰治と同じ年生まれの１１２歳【熊本】 RKK熊本放送, 16 September 2021 (Archived)
- 100歳以上 熊本、初の2千人超え 全国５位 Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, 17 September 2022 (Archived)
- 県内最高齢 林シノブさんの御長寿のお祝い Ikuo Kabashima, 4 October 2022 (Archived)
- 熊本県内最高齢者113歳亡くなる『明治・大正・昭和・平成・令和』 5つの時代を経験 TBS NEWS DIG, 27 January 2023