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Kamato Hongo
Kamato Hongo
Birth: 8 April 1891?
Isen, Kagoshima, Japan
Death: 31 October 2003
Isen, Kagoshima, Japan
Age: 112 years, 206 days?
Country: JapanJPN
Disputed

Kamato Hongo (née Kimura) (16 September 1887? - 31 October 2003) was a Japanese supercentenarian who was once recognized as the oldest living person from March 18, 2002 and held the title until October 31, 2003.

Biography

Kamato Hongo claimed to have been born in Isen, located on the Tokunoshima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, on 16 September 1887. She died in the same town on 31 October 2003. Upon her death, the official title of Japan's oldest person would have passed to Mitoyo Kawate. Although, Hongo claimed to have been born April 8, 1887, but this has been doubted and she was possibly born in 1888, 1889, or 1891 instead.

Doubts about her age

Hongo's documents are inconsistent on her birth year, with some suggesting April 1886 and others 1887. In addition, she is listed last on her koseki, after a sister born in 1890. Michel Poulain has hypothesized she was born in 1893 and that her age was changed to hide teenage pregnancies. Robert Young suggests she was born in 1891. Others suggest 1888. [1] Her koseki says September 16, 1887, but her family claimed she was born April 8, 1887. [2]1887 is an unlikely birth year as her older sibling was born in February 1887.

References

  1. The Izumi Case, et al. - World's Oldest People Group, Yahoo Groups
  2. World's oldest person dies at 116
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