Mitoyo Kawate

Mitoyo Kawate (川手 ミトヨ, Kawate Mitoyo, May 15, 1889 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese supercentenarian. She became the world's oldest living woman after the death of Mae Harrington on December 29, 2002, and the oldest recognized living person after the death of Japanese man Yukichi Chuganji on September 28, 2003, until November 13, 2003. (On October 31, 2003, after Kamato Hongo's death, Kawate was thought to be the oldest living person in the world.^[1][2] In fact, Kawate became oldest living person in the world on September 28, 2003, because Kamato Hongo's record was revoked in 2012.^[3])

A resident of Hiroshima, she worked on a farm until injuring her hands at the age of 99. In 1945, immediately after the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, she entered Hiroshima city in order to look for acquaintances and she was nuked.^[1] She was taken to a hospital shortly before her death from pneumonia.^[1][2] Kawate lived to be 114 years and 182 days.

Her 'oldest person' reign lasted only 46 days. Her death left Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan of Puerto Rico the oldest documented person in the world,^[3] though this was not recognized by Guinness World Records until 2004 (Charlotte Benkner of the U.S. had been given the title in the interim).^[2]

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