Chiyono Hasegawa facts for kids

In this Japanese name, the family name is Hasegawa.

Chiyono Hasegawa (長谷川 チヨノ, Hasegawa Chiyono, 20 November 1896 – 2 December 2011) was an amazing Japanese woman who lived a very, very long life! She was born in 1896, which was a long time ago, and lived for 115 years. When she passed away in 2011, she was the oldest person in Japan and even the second oldest person in the whole world! She was also the oldest person in Asia.

Chiyono Hasegawa: A Remarkable Life

Chiyono Hasegawa was known as a "supercentenarian." This is a special word for someone who lives to be 110 years old or even older! Not many people reach this incredible age. Chiyono-san, as she might have been called, was one of those rare individuals. She lived in Saga Prefecture, Japan, her whole life.

Living a Very Long Life

Chiyono Hasegawa was born on November 20, 1896. Imagine all the changes she saw in the world during her long life! She lived through two World Wars, the invention of cars, airplanes, computers, and the internet.

Her Later Years and Recognition

As Chiyono-san grew older, she became famous for her age.

• In 2008, when she was 111 years old, the Governor of Saga Prefecture, Mr. Furukawa, visited her. She was the oldest person living in that area.
• By May 2010, Chiyono Hasegawa became the oldest living person in all of Japan! This was a very special achievement.
• She passed away peacefully in 2011 from natural causes. She was 115 years and 12 days old. After her death, another Japanese person, Jiroemon Kimura, became the oldest person in Japan.

Chiyono Hasegawa's long life showed how many people in Japan live to be very old. She was a wonderful example of a supercentenarian.

Images for kids

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  Chiyono Hasegawa (1896–2011) lived in Saga. She was one of many Japanese women to live past 110 years. She is pictured here in September 2010. She was the oldest person in Japan. She died at 115 years, 12 days.