Sawayo Tanaka
- Full name: Sawayo Tanaka (Japanese: 田中沢世)
- Lifespan: 1891-06-09 – 2003-11-01
- Age: 112 years, 145 days
- Birthplace: Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Last residence: Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
- Application date: N/A
- Validation date: 2004-09-20
- Validation source: MHLW Japan/Tamashiro Hiko
Biography
Tanaka was born in Ehime Prefecture, Japan on 9 June 1891. She lived on fallow land that her father put under cultivation; his business in planting fruit fields prospered. When Tanaka reached the age of 20, her father arranged for her to marry a man from the neighbouring village, believing him suitable to grow the farming business.
Tanaka and her husband moved into her parents’ house in Yukuhashi, and planted pears, grapes, and figs, which, along with spinach, made up her diet. She gave birth to eight children: three daughters, all of whom were still alive at the time of her death; and five sons, only one of whom was still alive at the time of her death. Tanaka followed the Tenrikyo sect of Shintoism, and often prayed at a shrine in the mountains. One of her sons died in World War II; she often walked 20 minutes to pay respects at his tomb. In her 90s, she moved to the Yukuhashi Memorial Hospital.
Following the death of Yukichi Chuganji on 28 September 2003, Tanaka became the second-oldest living person in Fukuoka Prefecture, after Ura Koyama.
Tanaka’s age was verified by Japan’s MHLW and Tamashiro Hiko, and validated by the GRG on 21 October 2004.
Tanaka died of natural causes in Yukuhashi, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 1 November 2003, at the age of 112 years, 145 days.
Validation
Validation
The supercentenarian case of Sawayo Tanaka is verified by MHLW Japan, Tamashiro Hiko and validated by the Gerontology Research Group on 20.09.2004
Tanaka as a supercentenarian, photographed by Jerry Friedman
