# Misao Okawa

> Japanese supercentenarian (1898-2015)

**Wikidata**: [Q3818116](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3818116)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misao_Okawa)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/misao-okawa

## Summary

Misao Okawa was a Japanese supercentenarian who lived from 1898 to 2015. Recognized as one of the oldest verified humans in recorded history, she held the distinction of being the world's oldest living person during the final months of her life. Her lifespan bridged three centuries of Japanese history, from the Meiji era through modern Japan.

## Biography

- **Born:** 1898
- **Died:** 2015
- **Nationality:** Japan
- **Known for:** Being the world's oldest living person; Japanese supercentenarian
- **Also known as:** Misawo Okawa

## Contributions

Misao Okawa's primary contribution was as a documented supercentenarian whose verified age provided valuable data to demographic and gerontological research. Her life spanned 117 years, covering an extraordinary period of Japanese and world history. During her lifetime, Japan transitioned from the Empire of Japan (which existed from 1868 to 1947) through the adoption of the Constitution of Japan on May 3, 1947, into the modern era.

## FAQs

**What does "supercentenarian" mean?**
A supercentenarian is a person who has reached the age of 110 years or older. Misao Okawa exceeded this threshold by a significant margin, living to 117.

**How is Misao Okawa connected to the Empire of Japan?**
Okawa was born in 1898, during the period when Japan operated as an empire (established January 3, 1868). She lived through the empire's dissolution in 1947 and the subsequent establishment of modern Japan under its current constitution.

**Why is Misao Okawa significant in gerontology?**
Her verified lifespan of 117 years represents one of the longest documented human lifespans, contributing to the scientific understanding of human longevity and the upper limits of the human lifespan.

## Why They Matter

Misao Okawa represents a remarkable case study in human longevity. As a documented supercentenarian from Japan — a country noted for its high concentration of long-lived individuals — her verified age of 117 years contributes to the scientific and demographic understanding of aging. Her life encompassed the entirety of the 20th century and extended well into the 21st, providing a living connection between Japan's imperial past and its modern constitutional present.

## Notable For

- Japanese supercentenarian (1898–2015)
- Recognized as the world's oldest living person
- Lifespan of 117 years
- Born during the Empire of Japan era; witnessed the transition to modern Japan
- One of the oldest verified humans in recorded history
- Also known by the alias Misawo Okawa

## Body

### Early Life and Historical Context

Misao Okawa was born in Japan in 1898. At the time of her birth, Japan existed as the Empire of Japan, a political entity established on January 3, 1868, that spanned the Asia-Pacific region. This imperial period shaped the early decades of Okawa's life, as the nation underwent rapid modernization and expansion.

### Life Through Japan's Transformation

Okawa's lifetime coincided with dramatic changes in Japanese governance. She witnessed the transition from imperial rule to the constitutional monarchy that defines modern Japan. The Constitution of Japan came into effect on May 3, 1947, when Okawa was approximately 49 years old — roughly the midpoint of her extraordinarily long life. The prior constitution, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan, had been in effect since November 29, 1890, just eight years before her birth.

### Status as a Supercentenarian

Okawa achieved the classification of supercentenarian — a designation for humans who reach or exceed 110 years of age. Her verified age ultimately reached 117 years, placing her among the most extreme documented cases of human longevity. Japan, the island nation in East Asia where she resided her entire life, is recognized as a country with one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

### Legacy and Documentation

With 35 documented sitelinks across various language editions and databases, Okawa's biographical information has been extensively catalogued. Her Wikidata description identifies her simply and precisely as a "Japanese supercentenarian (1898-2015)." She passed away in 2015 at the age of 117, concluding one of the longest verified human lifespans on record.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013