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World’s oldest living person Kane Tanaka turns 119

World’s oldest living person Kane Tanaka turned 119 this month. (Photo: Twitter/tanakakane0102)
World’s oldest living person Kane Tanaka turned 119 this month. (Photo: Twitter/tanakakane0102)

The world’s oldest living person Kane Tanaka celebrated her 119th birthday on 2 January, marking the milestone in a nursing home in Fukuoka, Japan.

A celebratory tweet showing a recent photo of the old lady waving at the camera, and another photo of her flashing the peace sign taken back in April 2021, was shared on her Twitter account managed by her great-grandchild.

A birthday party was held for her as well on 5 January. She had a birthday cake topped with macaroons and a chocolate plaque that said “Happy 119th birthday, the oldest in the world!” and a table of her favourite Oronamin C drinks forming the numbers 119.

Tanaka also received birthday presents like a customised cushion and congratulatory messages from all over the world, and even personalised bottles of her beloved Coca-Cola.

Born in 1903, Tanaka has lived through five different periods of Japanese history, from the Meiji period (1868-1912) to the Taisho period (1912-1926) to the Showa period (1926-1989) to the Heisei period (1989-2019) to the current Reiwa period (2019-present).

Her favourite pastimes include solving math problems and kanji puzzles, while chocolates and carbonated drinks are her guilty pleasures.

When she’s feeling up for it, Tanaka even participates in group exercises with her fellow residents in the nursing home.

According to her family, Tanaka, who is now a Guinness World Record holder as the oldest person alive, aims to hit the 120-year mark.

Who knows, she may just be on her way to becoming the longest living person ever! That title currently belongs to Jeanne Calmet of France, who lived till 122 years and 164 days old.