World’s Oldest Identical Twins: Umeno & Koume Then vs Now (1913–2023)
In this video, we follow the extraordinary life timeline of Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama - the legendary Japanese sisters recognized as the oldest identical twins ever recorded.
Born on November 5, 1913, on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, Umeno and Koume were the third and fourth of 11 siblings. Although they shared the same beginning, the sisters spent much of their adult lives living apart, building their own families and following separate paths.
During their childhood, they faced prejudice for being twins. After elementary school, Koume left their home island to help her uncle, while Umeno remained on Shodoshima. For many years, they rarely saw each other, but from their 70s onward, the sisters began spending more time together again and even travelled to temples along the famous Shikoku pilgrimage route.
In 2021, at the extraordinary age of 107 years and 300 days, Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama officially became the oldest living identical twins and the oldest identical twins ever recorded, surpassing the previous record held by the famous Japanese twins Kin Narita and Gin Kanie.
Their story is not only about remarkable longevity. It is the story of two sisters who lived through more than a century of history, two world wars, changing generations, separation, reunion, family, and an unbreakable lifelong bond.
From their childhood on a small Japanese island to their historic Guinness World Record, this timeline follows Umeno and Koume through the years - showing their incredible journey from then to now.
This is the remarkable story of Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama.
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Research Sources / References:
Guinness World Records — Umeno Sumiyama and Koume Kodama
Guinness World Records — Oldest Identical Twins Ever
Smithsonian Magazine — World’s Oldest Identical Twins
Created for educational and historical storytelling purposes.