World’s Oldest Person Dies

A Japanese woman certified the world’s oldest person has died at the age of 119, local officials said today.

Kane Tanaka was born January 2, 1903, in the southwestern Fukuoka region of Japan, the same year the Wright brothers flew for the first time and Marie Curie became the first woman to win a Nobel Prize.

Ms Tanaka was in relatively good health until recently and lived at a nursing home, where she enjoyed board games, solving maths problems, soda and chocolate.

In her younger years, Ms Tanaka ran various businesses including a noodle shop and a rice cake store. 

A century ago, she married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, giving birth to four children and adopting a fifth.

She had planned to use a wheelchair to take part in the torch relay for the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, but the pandemic prevented her from doing so.

On her 119th birthday on January 2, Ms Tanaka’s family members said she hoped to live to 120.

When the Guinness World Records recognised Ms Tanaka as the oldest person alive in 2019, she was asked what moment she was the most happy in life. 

The woman, who by that time could barely speak, replied with a single word: ‘Now.’ 

Ms Tanaka’s daily routine was described at the time as including a 6am wake-up, and afternoons spent studying mathematics and practising calligraphy.

“One of Kane’s favourite pastimes is a game of Othello and she’s become an expert at the classic board game, often beating rest-home staff,” Guinness said.

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