Japan's oldest gamer

Ms. Ando next to the legendary Super Nintendo gaming console. Photo: YahooJP .

Ms. Ushi Ando, 100 years old, living in Inawashiro town, Fukushima prefecture, believes the secret to her longevity lies in her love of gaming. Almost every day, she spends 2-3 hours playing games and skillfully controlling the controller.

"My favorites are Bomberman and Tetris," shared Grandpa Ando.

The Super Nintendo console was always right next to her bed. Every time she wanted to play, she would sit up, insert the cartridge, and turn on the machine. Ms. Ando held the controller with both hands, her left hand controlling the directional keys, her right hand pressing the buttons. In the blink of an eye, she had completed the first level of the action game Bomberman .

This isn't too surprising, as she's a seasoned gamer with about 30 years of experience. The first time Ms. Ando held a game controller was when she visited her grandson's house in Tokyo. She was quickly captivated by the feeling of controlling and arranging blocks to clear rows and compete for points in the Tetris game.

When her grandson gave her his old game console, she started playing it every day. This is her third Super Nintendo (the legendary "4-button" console). The previous two were broken, and she had to buy a used one.

On weekends, she plays games with her 4-year-old great-grandson. Ando's skills are just as good. When her great-grandson fails, she demonstrates and says, "Grandma is better than you," or "You still can't beat Grandma."

She lives with her second daughter, Setsuko (65), and is able to take care of herself, except for cooking. "Playing games keeps me energized. I don't want to just sleep all day," she says. She remains a true and active gamer.

Hamako Mori holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest female gaming YouTuber. Photo: Guinness World Records.

Ms. Ando is not the only elderly person with a passion for gaming. Hamako Mori, born in 1930, is a famous Japanese gamer and YouTuber. In 2020, she was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest female gaming YouTuber.

Ms. Mori started playing video games in 1981 and has been dedicated to this passion for over 40 years. She plays many different genres, from action to role-playing games, and particularly loves titles like Grand Theft Auto V and Call of Duty.

She started her YouTube channel, "Gamer Grandma," in 2014 to share her joy of gaming with others. Her gaming videos and daily life vlogs have attracted hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Mori believes that gaming helps her maintain a youthful spirit and nimble hands.