bdmetronews Desk ॥ A 116-year-old Japanese woman is officially the world’s oldest person, the Associated Press reported Saturday. Kane Tanaka received the honor in an official Guinness World Records ceremony held at her nursing home in Fukuoka, AP said.
Tanaka, who was born on Jan. 2, 1903, loves math. She’s also a fan of the Othello board game, AP noted. Tanaka and her husband, Hideo Tanaka, had four biological children and one adopted child. The outlet reported that Tanaka’s family was at the world-record ceremony, though it didn’t specify which of her family members were in attendance at the event.
AFP reported that Tanaka cried during the world record ceremony. And BBC News reported that when Tanaka was asked during the event what her favorite memory was, she responded: “This right now.”
As AP explained, Japan has had a string of the world’s oldest people recently. The last World’s Oldest Person, Chiyo Miyako, was a 117-year-old Japanese woman who died last July. Before Miyako, the world’s oldest person had been Japanese too. And if you’re wondering who the world’s oldest person overall was, France’s Jeanne Louise Calment lived quite a life. Calment died at age 122 in 1997.
The Guinness Book of World Records notes that Tanaka has had surgeries to treat colorectal cancer, as well as cataracts, and she’s now living a “peaceful life” at her nursing home. Tanaka is known to rise as early as 6 a.m. Tanaka also apparently enjoyed chocolates during her world record ceremony, AP said.
People across the globe shared support and awe for Tanaka too. “Wow u go lady!!,” one person responded to the Guinness World Records tweet about the ceremony. “Congratulations for 116 years of life,” another person tweeted.
WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON: 116-year-old Kane Tanaka was honored Saturday as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records. She says it's been a dream of hers since she was 100 ❤️ https://t.co/NOo501hdHz pic.twitter.com/BVfxXfxhX0
— CBS News (@CBSNews) March 9, 2019
