'Hold No Grudges,' Says 108 YO Japanese Woman Certified As World’s Oldest Female Barber

The Guinness World Records has recognised Shitsui Hakoishi, a 108-year-old barber from Japan, as the world’s oldest female barber. Despite her age, she remains committed to her work and continues to serve a few loyal customers at her salon in Nakagawa, Tochigi prefecture.

Meet the World’s Oldest Female Barber, Earns Guinness Title at 108

Born on November 10, 1916, Hakoishi was the fourth of five children in a farming family in Nakagawa, which was then known as Ouchi. She left home at the age of 14 and moved to Tokyo, where she started working as an apprentice barber. Since she couldn’t practice during work hours, she secretly honed her skills late at night while her colleagues socialised. Her dedication paid off when she earned her barber’s license in 1936, just before she turned 20. By 1939, she had opened her own salon in Tokyo with her husband, Jiro.

Hakoishi’s life took a tragic turn during World War II. Her salon was destroyed in an air raid, forcing her to leave Tokyo and return to her hometown, Nakagawa. Meanwhile, her husband, Jiro, was deployed to the Imperial Japanese Army and never returned. She did not receive official confirmation of his death until 1953, nearly a decade after the war ended.

Despite these challenges, she remained strong and determined. That same year, she opened a one-chair barbershop in Nakagawa while raising her two children.

The Secret to Her Long Life

Hakoishi attributes her long and active life to her dedication to daily exercise, a habit she picked up at the age of 70. This commitment to fitness helped her maintain strength and mobility, which became even more significant when she was chosen as a torchbearer for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. She prepared rigorously by walking more than 1,000 steps daily while carrying a pole of equal weight to the Olympic torch. Reflecting on the moment, she shared, “At the moment when I raised the torch, I felt truly alive.”

Even at 108, she continues to work, though knee pain has limited her ability to take on as many clients as before. She now caters only to a small group of regular customers. Hakoishi shares her gratitude and determination to keep working,  “Life has been full of hardship since I was young, but I’m truly happy. Some people travel from far away to see me, so I want to keep going for as long as I can."

She also shared a guiding principle that has helped her remain positive through life’s challenges: “Hold no grudges, feel no jealousy, and engage in no quarrels.”

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Her achievement follows that of Tomoko Horino, who was recognised in 2023 as the world’s oldest female beauty advisor at the age of 100.