This 108-year-old Japanese Woman Pockets The World's Oldest Tukang Cukur Guinness Record

Sitsui Hakoishi. (Source: Guinness World Records)

JAKARTA - A 108-year-old woman from eastern Japan was officially recognized on Wednesday by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest female barber.

From Nakagawa, Tochigi Prefecture, they received recognition certificates at a local place as neighbors and customers continued to celebrate their achievements.

"My life has been full of difficulties since I was young, but I'm really happy," he said, quoted by Kyodo News March 5.

Quoted from Guinness World Records, Hakoishi was born to a farming family on November 10, 1916, when the world was still hit by the First World War.

Hakoishi, who started an internship at a barbershop in Tokyo at the age of 14. In 1934, he passed the barbershop and soon became a popular barber at his workplace at the age of 18, before getting a barber's license in 1936.

He then married Jiro, who is of the same profession and has two children. The two of them opened a salon together. However, the tragedy soon occurred. Jiro, who was subject to military service during the Second China-Japan War, died. His Salon, which also functions as his family's home, was destroyed into ashes during the bombing of Tokyo by the US military.

Fortunately, both Hakoishi and their children survived because they had been evacuated to their hometowns in Tochigi.

In 1953, he opened a Rihatsu Hakoishi salon in Nakagawa-maki, and he works there while raising his two children, to this day.

Hakoishi's Salon is about three hours from Tokyo, located on the outskirts of Tochigi Prefecture surrounded by mountains. In his narrow workspace, people will find antiques such as scissors that he has used since before the war.

Despite spending most of his time in nursing homes, he is still able to take care of himself. And every time his old client calls for a haircut, he will come.

Even though he is sick with his knees, he can no longer serve as many customers as before, he still shows his hair cutting skills every time he receives orders.

"Some people came from afar to see me, so I want to keep doing it as long as I can," said Hakoishi.

In March 2021, he participated as the torch bearer in the torch relay of the Tokyo Olympics.

In an interview with Tennen-Seikatsu, he said he adhered to "three things that should never be done: never hold grudges, never get jealous, and never fight with other people."