Kamato Hongo

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Kamato Hongo
Kamato Hongo at 116
Born	September 16, 1887 Kagoshima, Japan
Died	October 31, 2003, aged 116 Kagoshima, Japan

Kamato Hongo (Japanese: 本郷 かまと Hongō Kamato, September 16, 1887 – October 31, 2003) was the world's oldest recognized living person from March 2002 until her death. She lived in Kagoshima, on Japan's most southerly major island Kyūshū. 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 Kyūshū, 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. Kyūshū has been the home of other supercentenarians, including recent world's-oldest-man Yukichi Chuganji, who died one month before her. Aged 116 years and 45 days at her death, she was the last remaining documented person born before 1889. In January 2007, another Kyushu islander, Yone Minagawa, attained the world's oldest person title, and Kyushu resident Tomoji Tanabe took the men's title, once again making Kyushu the 'island of longevity.'

Preceded by Maude Farris-Luse

Oldest Recognized Person in the World March 18, 2002 - October 31, 2003

Succeeded by Mitoyo Kawate