Kane Tanaka - the world's oldest woman - has died at the age of 119.
Japan's state broadcaster NHK confirmed the news today (April 25), adding that she died in hospital in Fukuoka a few days ago on April 19, the Mirror reports. Mrs Tanaka had been officially recognised by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person in 2019.
It has been reported that she died of old age. Tributes have been paid to Mrs Tanaka following the news.
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The mantel of the world's oldest living person now goes to French nun Lucile Randon, who is 118. She was one month and nine days younger than Mrs Tanaka before the latter's death.
Mrs Tanaka, who was partial to chocolate and soda, lived through many milestones during her long life including surviving both World Wars. She was born the same year the Wright Brothers completed their first controlled flight of a motor-driven plane.
Japan has a dwindling and rapidly ageing population. As of last September, the country had 86,510 centenarians, and nine out of every 10 were women.
Despite her age, she typically woke up at 6am and was still learning, often studying subjects like maths during her afternoons. She also loved playing the classic board game Othello and had become an expert at the game, often beating nursing home staff.
She was confirmed as the oldest person alive on January 30, 2019, (when she was 116 years 28 days) with her loved ones and the mayor present for the occasion. When the Guinness World Records recognised her as the oldest person alive in 2019, she was asked what moment she was the most happy in life. She answered: "Now."
She was the seventh child of Kumakichi and Kuma Ota, had married Hideo Tanaka on January 6, 1922, four days after turning 19. The couple went on to have four children and adopted 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. During her life, she suffered from a number of health issues, and had several operations, including surgeries for cataracts and colorectal cancer, but lived 'peacefully' in her final years.
Local governor Seitaro Hattori paid tribute to Mrs Tanaka, saying: "I was looking forward to seeing Kane-san on this year's Respect for the Aged Day [a national holiday in September] and celebrating together with her favourite soda and chocolate. I am extremely saddened by the news."
The record for the oldest person ever to have lived is held by a French woman, Jeanne Louise Calment, who lived to more than 122 years. Jeanne was an incredible 122 years and 164 days old when she died at a nursing home in Arles in August 1997.
