This is a manifesto for living a long and happy life, but also for finding peace in the wake of difficult times, from a 102-yr old (now 104!).

'When I was a little girl, I thought that a one-hundred-year-old lady was someone who only appeared in fairy tales, but here I find myself past that landmark. It's quite the surprise.'

In 2020, at the age of 100, Tetsuyo Ishii was interviewed by her local paper in Hiroshima. Her positive outlook, wholesome lifestyle and connection to her community instantly captured the hearts of readers. In this charming book, Granny Tetsuyo shares the optimistic principles by which she lives her life, and the simple daily rituals that sustain her.

After retiring from her job as a local teacher and sadly losing her husband, Granny Tetsuyo has learned to live a fulfilling life in solitude. Whether she's attending the friendship club she has held for nearly twenty-five years, or tending to her garden, Granny Tetsuyo continues to share her generosity with the world.

Filled with personal stories, advice, traditional Japanese recipes and photo diary entries, this is a snapshot of a life well-lived and a guide to finding joy in every day.

Autorentext

Tetsuyo Ishii was born in 1920 in Jogecho, Hiroshima. She worked as an elementary school teacher from age 20 to 56, before working full-time on her family's allotment. Locals still affectionately call her "Teacher." She was featured in the Chugoku Shimbun and on TV, where her vitality and personality rocketed her to national fame.

In January 2023 she released her first book Happy On Her Own at 102, which went on to sell over 180,000 copies in Japan. Her follow-up, 103 Years Old and Full of Quotable Wisdom (Just Kidding!), was published in March 2024.