Japan, the country with the fourth highest life expectancy in the world, lost its oldest Miyoko Hiroyasu, who was 114 years old.

She was known to be among the oldest known survivors of COVID-19 but died just six months after overcoming the deadly disease.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry confirmed the passing of Hiroyasu who hailed from the city of Nakatsu, Oita prefecture.

Born in January 23, 1911, Miyoko died in her hometown on July 29. The Gerontology Research Group and LongeviQuest said Hiroyasu was exactly 114 years and 187 days old when she died.

The cause of her death remained unknown although it is suspected to be related to her bout with COVID 19.

Shigeko Kagawa of Nara Prefecture replaced Miyoko as the oldest living Japanese person.

Records of gerontology recording groups indicated that Kane Tanaka of Fukuoka was the oldest Japanese in the country’s history. She was 119 years and 107 days when she died on April 19, 2022.



Among the top 30 oldest living individuals in Japan, only one was a male. He was Jiroemon Kimura of the city of Kyoto. He was 116 years and 54 days old when he died on June 12, 2013.

Hiroyasu became the oldest living person in the country in May, 2025 as a result of the passing of 114-year-old Mine Kondo of Ikuma, Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture.

Hiroyasu, who worked as an art teacher at a girls school, was still able to speak clearly, write and draw when she reached the age of 113.

In January, 2025, a few years after much of the world overcame the COVID-19 epidemic, contracted COVID 19 but recovered.