Kane Tanaka, recognized as the world’s oldest person, was celebrated for her remarkable longevity, reaching the age of 119. Born on January 2, 1903, Tanaka’s life intersected with pivotal moments in history. Her birth year coincided with the Wright brothers’ achievement of the world’s first successful powered flight, as noted by Japan’s Kyodo news agency.
Residing in the southwestern Japanese city of Fukuoka, Tanaka lived through several Japanese imperial eras: Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa. Her lifespan also bridged the period surrounding the Russo-Japanese War, which began in 1904, just a year after her birth.
Born in the same year as notable figures such as British novelist George Orwell, Japanese film director Yasujiro Ozu, and poet Misuzu Kaneko, Tanaka was recognized by Guinness World Records in March 2019 as the world’s oldest person at the age of 116. She further achieved the distinction of being Japan’s oldest recorded person in September 2020, at 117 years and 261 days, and was the second oldest verified person globally.
The seventh of nine siblings, Tanaka married at 19 and managed a noodle shop while her husband, Hideo, and their eldest son served in the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the war, she and her husband operated a rice cake store. Tanaka attributed her longevity to her enjoyment of “delicious food,” including soda and chocolate, and her dedication to “learning” new things. She also enjoyed calligraphy and solving arithmetic problems.
In her later years, Tanaka lived in a nursing home in Fukuoka, where she engaged in various activities, including playing the board game Reversi.
Following Tanaka’s remarkable life, the title of the world’s oldest person has been assumed by Lucile Randon, a French woman who is 118 years and 73 days old, according to the Gerontology Research Group. In Japan, the title of the oldest living person has now passed to Fusa Tatsumi, a 115-year-old woman residing in Osaka prefecture, as reported by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
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