Mitoyo Kawate

Mitoyo Kawate (川手 ミトヨ, Kawate Mitoyo?) (May 15, 1889 – November 13, 2003) was a Japanese supercentenarian and, at the age of 114 years 182 days, briefly the oldest recognized living person after the death of either Kamato Hongo (disputed) or Yukichi Chuganji, both also from Japan.

A resident of Hiroshima, she worked on a farm until injuring her hands at the age of 99.[citation needed] Another Hiroshima woman, Asa Takii (1884–1998), had also lived to age 114, and in doing so she had become the oldest in Japan, but Kawate is the oldest person in the city's history and the only one from there to become the oldest recognized living person. She was known for her fondness for custard. In 1945, Kawate survived the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[citation needed]

She was taken to a hospital shortly before her death from pneumonia. Her 'oldest person' reign of 13 days was the shortest on record at the time, breaking the previous record of 15 days set by American Florence Knapp in 1988. In 2007, Emma Tillman held the title for only four days, removing this dubious distinction from Kawate.

Her death left Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan of Puerto Rico the oldest documented person in the world, though this was not recognized by the Guinness Book of Records until 2004 (Charlotte Benkner of the U.S. had been given the title in the interim).