The World's Oldest Person Alive, Kane Tanaka Is Now Japan's Oldest Person On Record At 117 Years Old

The Guinness Book of Records recognises Kane Tanaka as the world¡¯s oldest living person. But recently the supercentenarian broke another record and became Japan¡¯s oldest person on record ever. She turned 117 years and 261 days old on Saturday.

The previous record was held by another Japanese woman, Nabi Tajima, who died in April 2018 aged 117 years and 260 days.

KANE TANAKA'S FAMILY / VIA KYODO

Kane Tanaka lives in a nursing home in the south-western city of Fukuoka. Tanaka who loves soda and chocolate, was born in the former village of Wajiro, now part of the city of Fukuoka, on January 2, 1903.

She celebrated the achievement with a bottle of Coke and wore a T-shirt with her face printed on it. It had been given to her by members of her family.

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KYODO/Reuters

Her 60-year-old grandson Eiji Tanaka, told the Kyodo news agency that his grandmother was in good health and ¡°enjoying her life every day,¡± despite restrictions on family visits due to the coronavirus pandemic. ¡°As a family, we are happy and proud of the new record,¡± he reportedly said.

On Saturday, Fukuoka Prefecture sent gifts to Tanaka and a congratulatory certificate from Gov. Hiroshi Ogawa through the staff of her care home.

KYODO

Fukuoka Mayor Soichiro Takashima issued a statement expressing his respect for Tanaka who has lived in each of the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei and Reiwa eras and has had a great variety of life experiences. Reportedly he also wished for her good health.