"The Secret to Longevity Is Not Doing 'This'..."...Words from Japan's Oldest Barber

"Do Not Hold Grudges, Do Not Be Jealous or Quarrel": Life Lessons
Emphasizing a Healthy Diet and Regular Exercise

A 108-year-old Japanese woman has been listed in the Guinness World Records as the 'World's Oldest Female Barber.'

Japan's 108-year-old Shitsui Hakoishi, recognized as the world's oldest female barber in the Guinness World Records (GWR) website.

Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported on the 12th that Shitsui Hakoishi (108) received her Guinness World Records (GWR) certificate on the 5th in Nakagawa, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Having worked as a barber for an incredible 94 years, Hakoishi still styles the hair of many regular customers. She expressed immense joy at achieving her goal of setting a Guinness World Record. She conveyed her gratitude by saying, "I was able to come this far thanks to my customers."

Hakoishi cited a healthy diet and regular exercise as the secrets to her longevity. She eats mainly light foods, takes a walk every morning, and combines shoulder exercises with leg stretches. She also shared a life philosophy she learned from her mother. She emphasized the lesson: "Do not hold grudges, do not be jealous, and do not quarrel." She said this teaching helped her maintain a positive attitude despite facing difficulties over the decades.

Hakoishi Shitsui, a 108-year-old Japanese woman recognized as the world's oldest female barber, listed in the Guinness World Records (GWR) website.

She stated, "I don't know how much longer I can endure at this age, but I will continue this work as long as I can," reaffirming her commitment as an active barber. She also expressed confidence, saying, "Now that I am turning 109 this year, I will continue living until 110."

Hakoishi was born in November 1916 into a farming family in Nakagawa and moved to Tokyo at age 14 with the dream of becoming a barber. Working as an apprentice in a beauty salon, she obtained her barber license at age 20 and opened her first barbershop in Tokyo in 1939 with her husband. However, her husband died during World War II, and after losing the barbershop in the U.S. air raids on Tokyo, she fled to Tochigi Prefecture with her two children. In 1953, she reopened a barbershop in her hometown Nakagawa, which she has operated ever since. She still keeps the scissors she used before the war.

Additionally, Hakoishi was selected as a torchbearer for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She practiced walking over 1,000 steps daily while carrying a rod weighing the same as the torch. She recalled, "When I held the torch, I really felt alive."