Mrs. Hiroyasu is doing very well for her age, she has a great memory, still draws regularly, and can even recite a poem in English
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Topic starter
22/09/2023 8:32 pm
Miyoko Hiroyasu is a Japanese supercentenarian who is the oldest person in Oita Prefecture. She was born on 23 January 1911 and is the oldest Japanese person born in 1911. She lives in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/733360?display=1 recent article from Respect for the Aged Day with interview video
She still likes to draw
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22/09/2023 8:36 pm
Miyoko Hiroyasu is a Japanese supercentenarian who is the oldest person in Nakatsu City and Oita Prefecture.Miyoko Hiroyasu is a Japanese supercentenarian who is the oldest person in Nakatsu Prefecture. She was born on 23 January 1911 and is the oldest Japanese person born in 1911
https://newsdig.tbs.co.jp/articles/-/733360?display=1 recent article from Respect for the Aged Day with interview video
She still likes to draw
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
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Topic starter
21/02/2024 1:01 am
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21/02/2024 2:21 pm
LongeviQuest Visits Miyoko Hiroyasu, Oita Prefecture’s Oldest Person in Japan, at 113
On February 13, 2024, LongeviQuest Japan visited Miyoko Hiroyasu, who lives in Oita Prefecture, to celebrate her 113th birthday. Yumi Yamamoto, President of LongeviQuest Japan, celebrated with Hiroyasu and had a conversation with her. Hiroyasu was also given a flower arrangement to celebrate her birthday. She pleasingly said, “It’s beautiful. These aren’t artificial flowers, they’re real flowers, right? What are these flowers? They’re rare, and I’ve never seen them before.”
When asked about her age, she answered, “How old am I now? 113 years old? Well, I’ve lived a long time. I’m surprised myself.” Hiroyasu was born in Oita and had an older sister and a younger sister. She mentioned that ever since she was in first grade, she was the class president, and that’s something she is very proud of. Hiroyasu graduated from a prefectural girls’ high school and entered an art school in Tokyo. She was boarding at her uncle’s house in Tokyo. “There were two maids at my uncle’s house, and they were called Ojo-sama. My grandmother also lived there, she was very strict. At night, before going to bed, I always went to greet my grandmother at bedtime. When I opened the sliding door and said, Grandma, good night, please rest, she always responded with, good night.” Hiroyasu made us laugh by imitating her grandmother’s deep voice.
After graduating, she worked as an art teacher at a girls’ high school in Hiroshima. She got married in Hiroshima and was blessed with three children. Her childhood memories include playing with her hands and with a jumping rope and climbing trees to pick oranges. She learned about tea, flowers, and etiquette at an all-girls school where she studied. She also remembered going to a fireworks display and watching the fireworks from a bridge. A memory she shared of her time as a teacher was encouraging her students to enter a Yukata design contest sponsored by a newspaper company. We were amazed at how well Ms. Hiroyasu told these stories and how detailed her memory was.
Yumi Yamamoto and Miyoko Hiroyasu.
Hiroyasu was a former art teacher. She still likes to draw, so her flower paintings are displayed in the group home where she is admitted. She also actively participates in all recreational activities at the facility, most especially singing. “Every day is fun. I watch TV, play cards with everyone, and play Karuta.” Hiroyasu says that she subscribes to a daily newspaper herself and that she reads it thoroughly every day using a magnifying glass. She jokingly said, “I read all the flyers that are stuck in the newspaper, even though I can’t go shopping myself anymore.”
Hiroyasu says that she has a strong body and rarely catches a cold. “Ever since I was little, I was full of energy and went everywhere. My sister often skipped school, but I never skipped school. I did what I wanted to do, and I was a bit boyish. I was free-spirited.” When we asked her what her favorite food was, she replied, “I like everything; I don’t have a picky taste.” Her birthday meal request was salted kelp rice.
Hiroyasu recited Aesop’s “The Fox and the Grapes” in English.
We had heard from the staff at the nursing home that Hiroyasu-san would sometimes tell stories about Aesop’s Fables, “The Fox and the Grapes,” in English. So we requested that she recite the fable for us. Hiroyasu started, “Once upon a time, a fox lived in the countryside. One day, the fox went to the grape garden. The fox said, “This fruit is bad.” My story is over.” She was given a round of applause. During her high school’s school play, she gave a presentation in English. The fact that she still remembers that is truly an amazing memory.
From left: Writer Minobu Usui, President of LongeviQuest Japan Yumi Yamamoto, and Miyoko Hiroyasu.
During our last conversation, she mentioned, “The best thing about my body is that it’s strong. Everything tastes good, and I’m sleeping well. Everyone here takes good care of me, and I’m happy.” When we said our goodbyes to her, we said, “We hope you continue to be well.” Hiroyasu also gave us kind words of comfort, saying, “Please take care of yourself, don’t hurt yourself, don’t hurt your stomach, and stay healthy.” Her kind words deeply moved us. We were really happy to meet her.
During our last conversation, she mentioned, “The best thing about my body is that it’s strong. Everything tastes good, and I’m sleeping well. Everyone here takes good care of me, and I’m happy.” When we said our goodbyes to her, we said, “We hope you continue to be well.” Hiroyasu also gave us kind words of comfort, saying, “Please take care of yourself, don’t hurt yourself, don’t hurt your stomach, and stay healthy.” Her kind words deeply moved us. We were really happy to meet her.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Miyoko Hiroyasu, who shared many valuable stories with us, and to the nursing home staff, who kindly accepted our visit.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
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Topic starter
22/03/2024 1:18 am
A video of LQ's visit with Miyoko Hiroyasu, on 13 February 2024, has now been released
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05/02/2025 11:37 am
Miyoko Hiroyasu Celebrates 114th Birthday While Recovering from COVID-19
Miyoko Hiroyasu, the oldest living resident of Ōita Prefecture, and the fourth-oldest in Japan, celebrated her 114th birthday on 23 January. Around the same time, she made a full recovery from COVID-19, becoming one of the oldest survivors.
Hiroyasu-san (広安美代子) was born in Nakatsu, Ōita Prefecture, on 23 January 1911. She studied art at a Tokyo school and later worked as an art teacher in Hiroshima Prefecture. She married a man she had met while working in Hiroshima.
A few days after her birthday, after recovering from COVID-19. (Source: Courtesy of the nursing home)
According to the nursing home, Hiroyasu-san enjoys playing Othello and card games, such as memory games and Line Up Seven, with other residents almost every day. She maintains a lively sense of humor, often playfully attempting to trick her opponents when she’s about to lose.
Around the time of her 114th birthday, she was battling COVID-19. However, she has since made a full recovery and is now doing well.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
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21/05/2025 10:15 am
On 20th May 2025, following the sad passing of Ms. Kondō, Ms. Hiroyasu became the World's 10th-oldest validated living person.
On 21st May 2025, following the sad passing of Ms. Usui, Ms. Hiroyasu becomes the World's 9th-oldest validated living person. She also becomes the Oldest validate living person in Japan.
Topic moved to the Top 10 section.
https://longeviquest.com/2025/05/miyoko-hiroyasu-becomes-japans-oldest-living-person-at-114/
Miyoko Hiroyasu Becomes Japan’s Oldest Living Person at 114
LongeviQuest is pleased to announce that Mrs. Miyoko Hiroyasu of Ōita Prefecture has been officially recognized as the oldest living person in Japan. As of May 2025, she is 114 years old and remains in good spirits.
Born on 23 January 1911 in Nakatsu, Ōita Prefecture, Hiroyasu studied art in Tokyo and later worked as an art teacher in Hiroshima Prefecture. She met her future husband while teaching and went on to raise three children.
On her 114th birthday in January 2025, she was reported to still enjoy reading the newspaper daily, sketching, and playing card games such as Concentration and Sevens with fellow residents of her group home. Although a COVID-19 infection caused a brief delay in celebrating her birthday, she recovered and resumed these activities when her health allowed.
In her earlier years at home in Nakatsu City, before moving into a nursing facility, she taught calligraphy and drawing to local elementary school children four times a week. She once recited Aesop’s fable “The Fox and the Grapes” in English—a passage she had memorized during high school—demonstrating her lifelong love of learning.
When asked about the secret to her longevity, she said:
“My older sister and younger sister died early, but I have never been sick. I am grateful to my parents for giving me a healthy body. The key to my longevity is doing what I want to do and not being lazy about anything.”
She often added with a smile, “I just live freely and at my own pace!”
As of May 2025, Hiroyasu continues to enjoy lively conversations with those around her. Although she has recently experienced a slight decline in health, she remains mentally alert and is said to be doing very well overall.
She is believed to be the last surviving person in Ōita Prefecture born in the Meiji era.
http://www.supercentenariditalia.it/persone-viventi-piu-longeve-in-italia.
Persone viventi più longeve in Italia – Supercentenari d'Italia (supercentenariditalia.it)
