Chitose Awata, One of Japan’s 10 Oldest Living People, Turns 113

https://longeviquest.com/2026/08/chitose-awata-113th-birthday/

On 20 August 2026, Chitose Awata (粟田千年), the oldest living person in Yamaguchi Prefecture and one of the 10 oldest living people in Japan, celebrated her 113th birthday at the care facility where she lives, with her daughter joining the celebration.

Awata is also among the 30 oldest validated living people in the world.

To mark her 113th birthday, Awata received gifts from relatives, as well as a CD featuring an original song written and composed especially for her by one of her daughter’s friends. The song was played during her birthday celebration at the facility.

What Awata Credits for Her Longevity

Awata’s given name, Chitose (千年), is written with the Japanese characters meaning “1,000 years.” She has said that she believes she owes her longevity in part to the wonderful name her father gave her.

Awata also credits a childhood routine she practiced with her father for helping her develop a strong and healthy body. Even during the cold winter months, they would wash their faces with cold water after waking and then practice kanpu masatsu, a traditional Japanese health practice that involves rubbing the body with a dry towel.

Life at 113

At the age of 113, Awata spends much of her day in the living room of Hiyoshidai Geriatric Health Services Facility, where she enjoys the company of other residents.

Once or twice a week, she continues rehabilitation exercises, including standing practice and walking with parallel bars. Although she primarily uses a wheelchair, she is still able to stand regularly with assistance from caregivers.

Awata also continues to feed herself, slowly bringing each bite to her mouth and finishing her meals.

One of the highlights of her week is spending time with her daughter, who lives in a care house on the same grounds. Her daughter visits two or three times a week, usually around 3 p.m. during afternoon snack time. The two enjoy soft sweets brought by her daughter while spending time talking together.

According to staff at the facility, these visits are a great source of enjoyment for Awata. They believe that regularly talking and interacting with her daughter may be one of the factors contributing to her continued well-being.

According to her family, Awata is proud to be the oldest living person in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Biography of Chitose Awata

Chitose Awata was born on 20 August 1913 in Ogori, Yoshiki District, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, now part of Yamaguchi City. She was the second of three siblings.

Upon graduating from elementary school, Awata received an award recognizing her good health throughout her school years, good conduct, and excellent academic performance. She later studied sewing at a girls’ school.

At around the age of 20, she married an agricultural extension worker, with whom she had three children. Her husband died approximately 10 years after their marriage. Awata subsequently took over his farming operation and developed a strong passion for agriculture. Her achievements eventually earned her recognition as Yamaguchi Prefecture’s top wheat producer.

Following the Second World War, Awata took in her orphaned niece and nephew and raised them alongside her own three children, helping to raise five children in total.

Having been unable to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a teacher, Awata placed great importance on her children’s education. She respected their desire to learn and supported them in pursuing their studies.

Alongside her work in agriculture, she was actively involved in her children’s school PTA and a local women’s association. She also put her sewing skills to use making clothes and kimono for people in her neighborhood and enjoyed socializing with her many friends.

At the age of 34, Awata obtained a national qualification as an acupuncturist and went on to practice acupuncture actively.

During her 50s and 60s, she devoted much of her time to caring for her grandchildren while continuing to lead an energetic and active life.

Her Longtime Daily Routines

Until the age of 107, Awata followed a daily morning routine of washing her face after waking and practicing shakyo before breakfast. Shakyo is a traditional Buddhist practice of hand-copying sutras.

Before going to bed, she also routinely drank about 20 milliliters of plum wine or wine from an ochoko, a small traditional Japanese sake cup.

At the age of 96, Awata moved into Care House Hiyoshidai. At 107, she moved to a geriatric health services facility on the same grounds, where she continues to live today while receiving attentive care from the staff.

LongeviQuest extends its heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Awata on her 113th birthday and wishes her continued good health and happiness.