World’s oldest person, Japan’s Kane Tanaka, dies at 119

The Japanese Kane Tanaka, who at 119 years old was recognized as the oldest living person in the world today, has died, as confirmed to Efe on Monday by the local authorities of the Fukuoka prefecture, where she lived.

Born on January 2, 1903, in the old village of Wajir, which is now part of the city of Fukuoka, Tanaka died in a hospital in that city on the 19th at the age of 119 years and 108 days.

Tanaka lived in five different eras of Japan (Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and today’s Rewa) and had set a goal of turning 120 next year, according to his family.

The Japanese got married at the age of 19 and the family got ahead running udon noodle restaurants.

Tanaka had been living in a nursing home for several years and was a regular presence in articles and Japanese television programs on the occasion of his birthday or the national celebration of Respect for the Elderly Day.

His favorite food was chocolate and he liked carbonated drinks, as has often been seen in the photographs and videos broadcast in the local media.

The elderly woman applied to participate in the Olympic torch relay leg of the Tokyo Games last summer but ultimately opted out due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Tanaka was recognized in 2019 by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG) and the Guinness record as the oldest woman and person in the world.

After her death, the oldest living person becomes the French nun Lucile Randon, better known as Sister André, who is now 118 years and 74 days old.

The oldest Japanese is now Fusa Tatsumi, who turned 115 today, and is also the fifth oldest person in the world for which records are kept.