Masako Soga, Okayama Prefecture's Oldest Resident, dies at 111 - LongeviQuest

https://longeviquest.com/2024/11/masako-soga-okayama-prefectures-oldest-resident-dies-at-111/

Masako Soga, the oldest living person in Okayama Prefecture, Japan, passed away in Ihara on November 16, at the age of 111 years, 267 days. Her passing was first reported by the Chugoku Shimbun.

Masako Soga was born in Kannabe (now part of the city of Fukuyama), Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, on 23 February 1913, as the seventh of eight children. She was born small and was raised by her older brother and oldest sister, who fed her with amazake instead of breast milk. After getting married, she moved to Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. Her husband, a film engineer, passed away in the early 1980s.

Soga was able to sew until she was 95. At the age of 110, she still had 20 of her own teeth, and still enjoyed eating her candy rice crackers. Among her favorite foods are fruits, fried chicken and pork cutlets. In April 2023, she was still able to walk, although she broke her femur at the age of 102. When asked about the secret of her longevity, she replied: “Chew food well.”

On 19 May 2023, following the death of 110-year-old Hanayo Hashimoto, she became the oldest living person on Okayama Prefecture, at the age of 110.

Okayama Prefecture has announced that Yukiko Honda, aged 111 and less than a month younger than Soga, is now recognized as the oldest living resident.

She was the 83rd oldest living person in the world, the 26th oldest living person in Japan, the oldest person born in 1913 to die so far, the 4th oldest person in Okayama history, she was the oldest person in Okayama for 1 year, 181 days, the longest time since Kano Ebara who was the oldest person before her to die in Okayama from 15 Aug 2018 to 14 June 2020 (1 year, 304 days), who had been the oldest person before her to die in Okayama, she was the first person from Ibara to be considered the oldest person in Okayama, she was also the oldest person born in Hiroshima alive.
Died at the same age as:
Alice Foote 21 Sep 1868 14 Jun 1980 USA
Masaki Moriyama 21 Dec 1885 14 Sep 1997 JPN

Rest in peace Ms Soga.

Farewell, Ms. Masako Soga (1913-2024), rest in peace.