Shitsui Hakoishi, a 108-year-old Japanese barber, has snipped her way into history. On March 5, 2025, Guinness World Records named her the world’s oldest active female barber, honoring a career that spans nearly 90 years.

Born on November 10, 1916, in Ouchi Village (now Nakagawa), Tochigi Prefecture, Hakoishi’s life is a remarkable tale of resilience, skill, and community.

At 14, she left home for Tokyo, training as a barber and earning her license in 1936. With her husband, she opened a shop in Shinjuku, but World War II upended her world. Widowed after her husband’s death and with their shop lost to an air raid, she returned to Tochigi, raising two children while rebuilding her trade.

Decades later, she’s still at it, cutting hair in Nakagawa with a steady hand and a warm smile.

Hakoishi’s not just old—she’s exceptional. At 108, she works regularly, serving clients who’ve known her for over 50 years. “She’s meticulous and full of life,” one customer said during her Guinness ceremony, attended by neighbors and family.

Her barbershop is a time capsule, reflecting Japan’s journey from wartime hardship to modern prosperity. Yet she remains timeless, a local icon whose scissors still shape more than hair—they craft connections.

Her story, as of March 13, 2025, inspires beyond Nakagawa. Hakoishi embodies purpose and passion, defying age with every snip. In a youth-obsessed world, she proves that experience and dedication endure.

Her record isn’t just about longevity—it’s about living fully. If you’re ever in Nakagawa, a visit to her shop offers more than a trim: it’s a brush with history, delivered by the world’s oldest barber.