Kane Tanaka

Kane Tanaka (田中カ子, Tanaka Kane, born 2 January 1903) is a Japanese supercentenarian who, at age 117 years, 179 days, is the world's oldest verified living person,[1] and the seventh verified oldest person in recorded history.

Kane Tanaka
田中カ子
Kane Tanaka in 2020, aged 117
Born(1903-01-02)2 January 1903 (age 117 years, 179 days)
Wajiro Village (now Higashi-ku, Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Known forOldest living person
(22 July 2018 – present)
Spouse(s)
Hideo Tanaka (m. 1922)
Children5 (4 biological, 1 adopted)
Parent(s)Kumakichi and Kuma Ota

Biography

Tanaka was born Kane Ota on 2 January 1903, the seventh child to Kumakichi and Kuma Ota, in the village of Wajiro (now part of Higashi-ku, Fukuoka), on the southern island of Kyushu.[2] Born in the waning years of the Meiji era, Tanaka was premature and raised on breast milk from nurses.[3] She married Hideo Tanaka in 1922; they had four biological children and adopted a fifth child.[4] They worked in a store selling shiruko and udon noodles. After her husband and her son died during World War II, Tanaka continued working in the store, and retired at 63.[2] In the 1970s, she visited the United States, where she has several nieces and nephews.[5]

At 103, Tanaka was diagnosed with colon cancer.[2] When she was 107, her son wrote a book about her life and longevity: In Good and Bad Times, 107 Years Old. She was interviewed by KBC in September 2017 when she was 114.[6]

As of 2018, Tanaka lived in a hospital in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka. She was still in good health, played Othello, and took short walks in the facility's hallways.[7] Her hobbies include calligraphy and calculations.[8] She credits family, sleep and hope as her secrets for longevity.[9] She said she would like to live to the age of 120.[2]

Tanaka has a strong appetite and likes sweets; she drinks three cans a day of canned coffee, sodas, and various nutritional drinks.[2][8]

On 9th March 2019, Guinness World Records named her the world's oldest living person.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Validated Living Supercentenarians". grg.org. Gerontology Research Group. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017. The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) lists people as living whose age has been validated and confirmed to be alive within the past year.
  2. Kashiwagi, Toshihiro (27 July 2018). 国内最高齢１１５歳、入所者励ます「頑張りんしゃい」 [At 115, the oldest man in Japan advises citizens to "try hard"]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  3. Hoda, Masashi (27 July 2018). 田中カ子さん１１５歳「-死ぬ気全然せんです」 [Japan's oldest woman, Kanako Tanaka, at 115: "I do not feel like dying at all"]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  4. Senda, Masakazu (9 March 2019). "World's oldest person confirmed as 116-year-old Kane Tanaka from Japan". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. McIntosh, Linda (6 June 2016). "San Marcos couple celebrate aunt's 113th year". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  6. "元気に長生きする秘けつ" [The secret to a healthy long life] (in Japanese). KBC. 19 September 2017. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  7. "Japan's oldest person Chiyo Miyako dies at 117". The Japan Times. Kyodo. 27 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  8. １１５歳国内最高齢の田中カ子さん「みんなのおかげ」と感謝　カフェオレ毎日３、４本 [Oldest person in the country, Kane Tanaka, 115, says "thanks to everyone" and enjoys 3 or 4 café au lait every day]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). 27 July 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
  9. Brennan, David (27 July 2018). "Who is the World's oldest Person? Chiyo Miyako Dies At 117, Passing Title To Kane Tanaka". Newsweek. Retrieved 27 July 2018.
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