Shigeyo Nakachi

Shigeyo Nakachi
Nakachi at the age of 115 in September 2020
Birth:	1 February 1905 Saga Prefecture, Japan
Death:	11 January 2021 Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Japan
Age:	115 years, 345 days
Country:	JPN
Validated

Shigeyo Nakachi [Japanese: 中地シゲヨ] (1 February 1905 – 11 January 2021) was a Japanese supercentenarian who, at time of her death, was the second-oldest living person in Japan (after Kane Tanaka) and the fifth-oldest validated person in the world whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group.

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 90s, but still lived independently until the age of 103. At the age of 108, she could walk unassisted. Nakachi enjoys hand-dancing. She is almost completely deaf. In December 2018, she recovered from a bout of aspiration pneumonia that left her bedridden and requiring a breathing tube for several days. Nakachi died in Saga City, Saga Prefecture, Japan, on 11 January 2021 at the age of 115 years, 345 days.

Longevity

Nakachi 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) and the fifth-oldest validated living person in the world.

On 14 February 2020, Nakachi became the oldest person ever documented from Saga Prefecture after breaking the previous record of 115 years, 12 days set by Chiyono Hasegawa. After surpassing the final age of Shimoe Akiyama on 14 October 2020, Nakachi became the seventh-oldest validated person in Japanese history.

At the time of her death, Nakachi was the 24th-oldest person of all-time whose age has been validated by the GRG.

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

Nakachi on her 115th birthday.

References

• GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List
• 佐賀市の最高齢者　１０６歳中地さんを市長が訪問 (deadlink)
• 秀島市長、１１０歳中地さんをお祝い Saga Shimbun, 4 September 2015
• Hand dancing video yumi__11.22 on Instagram, 14 April 2018
• 県内最高齢113歳、中地さん　佐賀市長が表敬訪問 Saga Shimbun, 8 September 2018
• 県内最高齢、市長もお祝い　１１４歳の中地さん表敬訪問 Saga Shimbun, 8 September 2019
• 県内最高齢、世界４位の１１５歳中地さん　笑顔の誕生日 Saga Shimbun, 1 February 2020
• 世界第5位 佐賀市長が115歳の県内最高齢者を訪問【佐賀県】 Saga TV, 10 September 2020