08/30/2025
Hanako was a koi fish who died at the age of 226. In 1966, two of her scales were removed and extensively studied to determine her age. She was the longest living koi fish (circa 1751 – 7 July 1977).”
Hanako’s story is one of the most remarkable examples of longevity in the animal kingdom. She lived in a quiet pond in Japan, cared for by generations of keepers who regarded her as part of the family. To verify her incredible age, researchers at Nagoya Women’s College removed a few of her scales in 1966.
Under a microscope, the rings on the scales, much like the rings of a tree, were carefully counted, confirming that she had lived for more than two centuries.
Hanako’s life spanned eras of Japanese history, from the time of samurai and shoguns in the mid-18th century to the modern industrial nation of the 20th century. Imagine a single fish alive during the American Revolution, still swimming as humans landed on the Moon. Her name, which means “flower girl,” is fitting for a creature that bloomed quietly in a pond for 226 years, a living witness to centuries of human history.
