Koto Okubo

Koto Okubo (大久保 琴, Ōkubo Koto, born 24 December 1897) is a Japanese supercentenarian, who at the age of 126 years, 204 days, is the second-oldest living person, and oldest woman, in the world, behind fellow Japenese supercentenarian Jiroemon Kimura. The two are the last verified living people born in 1897.

Koto Okubo became the oldest woman from Japan and Asia after the death of Chiyono Hasegawa on 2 December 2011. But Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare did not announce her name officially (The released information was only the residence and age). Furthermore, at that time, her record was not identified and recognized by the Gerontology Research Group, so there was a disagreement in both view. According to the GRG's list, the oldest woman from Japan was Misawo Okawa (ja:大川ミサヲ), who is 72 days younger than Okubo.

The name of Okubo was finally reported by the Japanese press on 14 September 2012, and on the same day, Okubo was verified and added to the GRG list for Guinness World Records.

Now, Okubo lives in a nursing home with her son.

• 2 December 2011 – Chiyono Hasegawa died. Koto Okubo, aged 113 years, 343 days, became the oldest living woman and second oldest living person in Japan. She also became the oldest living woman in Asia.
• 14 September 2012 – Koto Okubo, aged 114 years, 265 days, is identified and recognized by the GRG as the oldest living woman in Japan.
• 16 December 2012 - Okubo became one of the 30 verified oldest people, aged 114 years, 358 days, surpassing Kama Chinen.
• 17 December 2012 - Okubo became the oldest woman in the world, aged 114 years, 359 days, after Dina Manfredini's death.