Shigeyo Nakachi

Shigeyo Nakachi

Nakachi on her 115th birthday

Validated

Shigeyo Nakachi [Japanese: 中地シゲヨ] (born 1 February 1905) is a Japanese supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group. She is currently, as of 19 April 2024, the second-oldest living person in Japan and the fifth-oldest validated person in the world.

Biography

Nakachi was born on 1 February 1905 in Saga, Japan as the second of five siblings. She was an elementary school teacher for 30 years, before then becoming a kindergarten teacher, eventually retiring at the age of 62.

Nakachi fractured her femur twice in her 90's, but still lived independently until age 103. At age 108, she could walk unassisted. In December 2018, she recovered from a bout of aspiration pneumonia that left her bedridden and requiring a breathing tube for many days.

Nakachi enjoys hand-dancing and interacting with the people around her. At the age of 115, she is quite active still, despite being almost completely deaf.

Nakachi currently lives in Saga City, Saga Prefecture. She has been the oldest living person in Saga Prefecture since the death of 112-year old Nugi Ikeda on 8 June 2016. Following the death of Shin Matsushita on 27 August 2019, she became the second-oldest living person in Japan, behind Kane Tanaka.

References

• 佐賀市の最高齢者　１０６歳中地さんを市長が訪問
• 秀島市長、１１０歳中地さんをお祝い
• 2018 hand-dancing video Instagram
• GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List
• 県内最高齢、世界４位の１１５歳中地さん　笑顔の誕生日

Gallery

Nakachi (left) in 1911 when she entered elementary school.

Nakachi (second from the left in the second row) in 1913, when she received an award for excellence.

Nakachi (standing on the far right) around 1915, when she enjoyed playing tennis.

Nakachi (right) in 1916, when she graduated from elementary school.

Nakachi around 1920, with her sister.

Nakachi around 1920, when she played with her friends on the bank of the neighborhood.

Nakachi as a young woman.

Nakachi (center of front row) between 1920-1922, with a girl's school friend.

Nakachi (second from the left) in 1923, when she became a teacher.

Nakachi (center) in 1925. Photo of adult ceremony day.

Nakachi (leftmost) when she received a "tea ceremony"”茶道-Sadou” license.

Nakachi enjoyed a tea party in the forest called "九年庵-Kunen-an".

Nakachi (second from the right) in 1925, climbing Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture.

Nakachi between 1928-1932.

Nakachi in 1934, with her husband Goro and son Kenzo.

Nakachi between 1930-1935. Class photo.

Nakachi around 1940, during the World War II.

Nakachi between 1940-1945 at the end of the World War II.

Nakachi (the left edge of the last row) in 1945, after the end of theWorld War II.

Nakachi in 1953.

Nakachi between 1955-1965.

Nakachi in 1960 (at age 54). New Year's Day photo.

Nakachi in October 1960.

Nakachi around 1965 (around 60).

Nakachi in 1967 at the age of 62.

Nakachi as an older woman.

Nakachi at the age of 100.

Nakachi at the age of 106

Nakachi at the age of 111

Nakachi at the age of 113

Nakachi at the age of 114