Japanese woman officially becomes the world’s oldest living person

A 116-year-old Japanese woman was honoured on Saturday as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records.

The global authority on records officially recognized Kane Tanaka in a ceremony at the nursing home where she lives in Fukuoka, in southwest Japan. 

Her family and the mayor were present to celebrate as the cancer-surviving pensioner, who loves playing the board game Othello, was handed the framed certificate by a Guinness World Records official.   

116-year-old Japanese woman Kane Tanaka holds a Guinness World Records certificate naming her as the world’s oldest person living during a ceremony in Fukuoka, Japan

Asked what part of her life she’d enjoyed most, Tanaka said: ‘This right now.’ 

Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903, the seventh of eight children. She married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, and they had four children and adopted another child.

She is usually up by 6am and keeps her mind occupied by studying mathematics.

She had previously attributed her longevity to a strong appetite and her liking of sweets, coffee, and fizzy drinks.

Her great-nephew, Gary Funakoshi, also credited Tanaka’s spirituality and faith. 

Tanaka, who loves playing the board game Othello was honored Saturday as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records

Tanaka, who loves playing the board game Othello was honored Saturday as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records

Tanaka celebrates with strawberries and cream after becoming the oldest verified living person in a ceremony she called the most enjoyable moment of her life

Tanaka celebrates with strawberries and cream after becoming the oldest verified living person in a ceremony she called the most enjoyable moment of her life

The previous record holder for the oldest living person was another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, who died in July at age 117. 

Miyako was described by her family as a ‘chatty goddess’ who was kind and patient, and loved calligraphy, eating sushi and eels. 

The oldest person prior to Miyako was also from Japan.

The country dominates the oldest-person list because although changing dietary habits mean obesity has been rising, it’s still relatively rare in a nation whose culinary tradition focuses on fish, rice, vegetables and other food low in fat. 

Kane Tanaka has credited her strong appetite and love of coffee, sweets and fizzy drinks for her longevity

Kane Tanaka has credited her strong appetite and love of coffee, sweets and fizzy drinks for her longevity 

Age is also traditionally respected here, meaning its elderly are well cared for and often stay active into their 80s and beyond.

But Tanaka has a way to go before she is the oldest person ever – an accolade currently held by a French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment.

According to Guinness World Records, Calment was born in 1875 and lived to 122. 

She reportedly continued cycling until her 100th birthday and smoked throughout her elderly years, until she was 117. 

Guinness said the world’s oldest man is still under investigation after the man who had the honour, Masazo Nonaka, living on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, died in January at 113.  

She took over the record from another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, who died in July at age 117. Japan dominates the oldest people list because of its healthy cuisine and respect for the elderly

She took over the record from another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, who died in July at age 117. Japan dominates the oldest people list because of its healthy cuisine and respect for the elderly 

Following Miyako’s death, two other people stepped forward claiming to be the world’s oldest living person – a Brazilian man and a Russian woman, but neither claim has been verified by Guinness.    

Jose Ferreira dos Santos, who lives in the municipality of Itajuipe in the Brazilian state of Bahia, says he is 118 years old.

His birth certificate appears to state he was born on November 9, 1900, which would make him just over two years older than Tanaka. 

Jose Ferreira dos Santos says he is the world's oldest living person and the oldest man ever, but Guinness World Records have not verified his birth certificate

Jose Ferreira dos Santos says he is the world’s oldest living person and the oldest man ever, but Guinness World Records have not verified his birth certificate

Brazilian Jose's birth certificate appears to show his date of birth as November 9, 1900

Brazilian Jose’s birth certificate appears to show his date of birth as November 9, 1900

But his claim could be scuppered if another contender, Koku Istambulova, is confirmed as being 129 years of age.

Istambulova produced Russian passport and pension papers which appeared to show her date of birth as June 1, 1889.

Guinness World Records has three longevity categories: the oldest person living (male), oldest person living (female), and oldest person living. 

Russian woman Koku Istambulova says she is 129 years old, which would make her the oldest living person by a huge margin and the oldest person who has ever lived

Russian woman Koku Istambulova says she is 129 years old, which would make her the oldest living person by a huge margin and the oldest person who has ever lived 

Koku Istambulova's Russian internal passport which is said to show her date of birth as June 1, 1889, but has not been verified by Guinness World Records

Koku Istambulova’s Russian internal passport which is said to show her date of birth as June 1, 1889, but has not been verified by Guinness World Records 

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