The second oldest woman in the world passed away after enjoying her favourite meal

The world’s second oldest woman, Fusa Tatsumi, passed away at the age of 116 in a nursing home in Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture, Japan, on December 12. Local reports indicate that she enjoyed her favourite meal, bean-paste jelly, shortly before death.

Born on April 25, 1907, Fusa Tatsumi held the title of Japan’s oldest person and remarkably never experienced severe illnesses or injuries throughout her life, except for a broken thigh bone in her 70s due to a fall. Fusa, a farmer’s wife, and her husband Ryutaro devoted long hours to working in the fields to support their family, successfully raising three children.

Fusa’s legacy extends beyond her remarkable age, encompassing a life filled with dedication to her family and hard work in the agricultural sector. Her passing marks the end of an era for those who knew and admired her resilience and longevity in Kashiwara, Japan.

Her family put her long life down to the hard physical work she’d carried out for decades, carrying baskets of harvested peaches and grapes on her back.

A Kashiwara city official informed local media that Tatsumi passed away at the age of 116 in an Osaka care facility on Tuesday. Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura expressed condolences to her family and reminisced about the celebration held in September to mark her remarkable longevity.

Fusa became Japan’s oldest person after the death of 119-year-old Kane Tanaka in April last year.

‘I think she did great to get to this age,’ Tatsumi’s eldest son, Kanji, 76, told local media.

The mother-of-two was passionate about growing chrysanthemum flowers and flower arranging as a hobby. But while gardening in her 70s, she fell and broke her femur – the only serious injury she sustained in her life.

Tatsumi was healthy enough to live in her family home until she was 106. She would eat three meals a day and was careful to have a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fish and a small amount of meat. 

Her care home said she would drink one litre of water daily and keep a plastic bottle and cup within reach of her bed. They added that Tatsumi, at the age of 110, would do her makeup and often chat with staff.

Tatsumi was the second oldest woman in the world, but her death means that Edith Ceccarelli, from the US, now holds that honour.

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George Johnston

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