At 101 years old, Kesa Hatamoto, based in Tokyo, Japan, has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest pharmacist. Despite her age, she shows no signs of slowing down after running her pharmacy for the past 70 years.
As of April 1, Kesa was confirmed as the oldest female pharmacist at 101 years and 196 days old. Remarkably, she is not confined to a managerial role; Kesa actively participates in stocking, ordering, and dispatching at her pharmacy.
Kesa’s childhood dream was to become an elementary school teacher, but her career path changed due to her father’s advice. “My father told me that as a lifework, having a pharmacist license will set you for life,” she recalled. “I respected him dearly, and so I knew he was right.”
Entering higher education without fully understanding the challenges ahead, Kesa diligently studied to keep up. After graduating, she initially worked in a lab and later paused her career to marry.
The opportunity to open her own pharmacy arose unexpectedly. “My husband became a loan guarantor for a friend, but things did not work out for him,” Kesa explained. “In the past, the loan guarantor had to pay the remaining loan. Another friend of my husband remembered I had a pharmacist license and suggested I should start a shop. Since we had finances to worry about, I decided to give it a go.”
Kesa’s pharmacy initially sold medications and general goods, and with few shops nearby, it quickly attracted customers. She later studied Chinese medicine, aiming to create a pharmacy that promoted overall well-being.
Kesa attributes her longevity in business to her resilient personality. “I think I have a bit of guts and don’t really hassle over things. Although I was concerned when my husband got trapped in a troublesome situation financially, I never accused him. I think that’s the wisest thing I’ve done in my entire life!”
Now holding a Guinness World Records title, Kesa remains humble about her achievement. “People say they’ve seen a [GWR] certificate for the first time. And I say – I’d never seen one until I got mine as well. I do feel a bit overwhelmed by having a title so big. But both customers and the pharmaceutical community are happy. They all helped me along,” she said.
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