Happy on Her Own at 102 by Tetsuyo Ishii

We live in an age where bad news is ever present, and it can often feel like a struggle just to get through the day. Between work, bills, relationship issues, and health scares, it’s no wonder that people are craving a new perspective, a way to approach life that focuses on the positive, while also finding strength in dealing with the negative. Tetsuyo has certainly seen her fair share of ups and downs, but through it all she’s developed a distinct outlook on life, which she now shares here. The perfect gift book for readers across the reading spectrum, HAPPY ON HER OWN AT 102 is a warm-cup-of-tea kind of book, both prescriptive and comforting, guaranteed to break through the noise of our frenetic everyday lives.

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!).

About the Author: 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.

05 Feb 2026
 

Happy on Her Own at 102: A guide to living a long and happy life by Tetsuyo Ishii ISBN 9781806170081