“Kinsan Ginsan” (きんさんぎんさん) was the affectionate name given to twin sisters from Japan who were record-setting in terms of their longevity. They were Kin Narita (成田 きん Narita Kin, 1 August 1892 – 23 January 2000) and Gin Kanie (蟹江 ぎん Kanie Gin, 1 August 1892 – 28 February 2001). Their maiden name was Yano (矢野). Their health and vitality, despite being over 100 years old, was said to be “an ideal form of living in your sunset years”, and they became national celebrities in Japan.
The twins were born on 1 August 1892 (in the 25th year of the Meiji Era) in Narumi Village (currently in Midori Ward, Nagoya), Aichi Prefecture. Kin was the elder daughter and Gin was the younger daughter. Tests proved that they were identical twins, although for an unknown reason they had different blood types.
In 1991, they celebrated being about to reach 100 years of age, and were featured in a newspaper article in which the mayor of Nagoya met both of them and congratulated them.