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Kamato Hongo (September 16, 1887 - October 31, 2003) was the world's
oldest living person from March 2002 until her death. She lived in
Kagoshima, on Japan's most southerly major island, Kyushu. She celebrated
her 116th birthday the month before her death from pneumonia.
Born on the small island of Tokunoshima, home of Shigechiyo Izumi, she
later moved to Kagoshima on Kyushu, where she lived with her daughter. The
oldest person in Japan after the death of Denzo Ishisaki in 1999, she
attained a measure of celebrity and was the focus of some merchandise
(washcloths, keyrings, phone cards, etc.) sold highlighting her longevity.
She appeared on Japanese television several times. Kyushu has been the home
of other supercentenarians, including recent world's-oldest-man Yukichi
Chuganji, who died the month before her.
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