Yone Minagawa

Infobox Person
name = Yone Minagawa


image_size = 300px
caption = Yone Minagawa
birth_date = birth date|1893|1|4
birth_place = Akaike, Fukuoka,
Japan
death_date = death date and age|2007|8|13|1893|1|4
death_date = August 13, 2007
aged 114 years, 221 days
death_place = Fukuchi, Fukuoka,
Japan

nihongo|Yone Minagawa|皆川 ヨ子|Minagawa Yone (January 4, 1893 – August 13, 2007) was a Japanese supercentenarian believed to have been the world's oldest living person from January 29, 2007 until her death of old age, aged 114 years and 221 days.

After her husband died, she raised her five children by selling flowers and vegetables at a coal mine.

Minagawa lived alone in the Momochi apartment building in Nishijin Sawara Ward, Fukuoka, near Seinan Gakuin University, until 2005, when she moved to Keijuen, a special nursing home in her native Akaike. Minagawa enjoyed playing the shamisen. Even at 114 she participated in club activities in a wheelchair and "danced" along to music.

Minagawa became the oldest living person in Japan when then 114-year-old Ura Koyama died in April 2005. With the death of 114-year-old American Emma Tillman on January 28, 2007, Minagawa became the oldest living person in the world. Minagawa was 114 years and 25 days at the time (being the next day in Japan relative to the USA). [ [http://www.japannewsreview.com/society/kyushu/kyushu/20070814page_id=1438 World’s oldest person, Yone Minagawa, dies at 114 - Japan News Review] ]

At the time of her ascension, Minagawa was the youngest person to hold this title since Carrie C. White was the same age on December 13, 1988, or (for those who doubt the authenticity of White's claim) since Jeanne Calment was 114 years and 25 days old on March 18, 1989. During her last few months, she passed former fellow 114-year-old compatriot and also a world's oldest person Mitoyo Kawate in age.

Minagawa died on August 13, 2007 at the age of 114 years, 221 days. All but one of her children died before her, but she left six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. With her death, another 114-year-old, Edna Parker of the United States, became the oldest living person.

ee also

* List of the oldest people
* Oldest people
* Supercentenarian

References

External links

* [http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/01/03/D8ME2QQO0.html Japan's oldest person, Yone Minagawa, turns 114]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIOUPLzv57o Footage of Yone Minagawa]
* [http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSHAR35118220070813 World's oldest person dies in Japan at 114]
* [http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070813/lf_afp/lifestylejapansenior_070813141651 Yahoo News, World oldest women dies at age 114]