World's oldest person dies in Japan at 117

My great aunt got to 100, then passed away on her 102nd birthday. Woke up, opened her cards and presents, had her breakfast, then fell asleep, and died quickly and peacefully.

Very sad news to read this, Tajima-San never got the chance to get the Guiness world record presentation

If I were 117 years old and got offered anything at all that I wanted, I would be there the next day to pick it up. At that age, you can't take another week for granted!

Doing some research once, I learned that one third of all 99 year olds will die before they turn 100. That's how tough it is. It's like the last 100 meters on Mt Everest, without oxygen. Getting close is one thing, but the going gets tough near the end. 117 years is an amazing feat. Good on her!

Terrible news. No! Sad news. No!

Anyone who can live a life until 117 is to be celebrated, admired and wondered at in amazement for achieving the  unbelievable.

Sadness is for those who die pitifully, tragically, young, agonizingly, alone..........! 

Nabi-san appears by all accounts, appears to have enjoyed a good life full of family.

And for those who believe the oldest in the world is some sort of "competition", a nationalistic puff-up, I say the reality is that someone always must die for that to happen.

Ganbare - well good luck with your long life wish. Sounds like you're giving it your best shot with your lifestyle.

But sorry, for me in all sincerity, passing away at 117 is not a tragedy. The examples of cases I posted are tragic.

One can live a fullfilling life- one filled with joy, love, hope, contentment, friends, achievements, family...etc,  without breaking world age records.

And I think it's wonderful that people may well want to strive to live a very long life, but not all people set that as a goal in their lives.

In my humble life, if I pass the average age for men (82?) without too much bother and pain I will be satisfied and wouldn't wish for those around me to be overly sad when I pass. Humans are living organisms. We are born - we live - we die. And it's the quality of the living that counts more to me - not the quantity

Here's a mind boggling thought: She was already 69 years o;d when they landed a man on the moon!

I assume Tajima-San really wanted to keep on living,and also her children and grand-children. If I make it to 100,I hope to live to 130 plus. 

We all die. I would rather focus on living than on not dying. I have had people close to me who died in their 30s and 40s, so we are all lucky just to be here - however long it is.

It is sad and tragic news. I assume Tajima-San really wanted to keep on living,and also her children and grand-children. If I make it to 100,I hope to live to 130 plus. Active Lifestyle of Zero alcohol, no-smoking and almost never sweets should give me chance to get there.Maybe.

All deaths are sad, but it is hardly tragic. She had a good and exceptionally long life and died of extreme old age. A 5-year old dying is tragic. A 117-year old has just managed to defy nature.

As for Tajima-san, I expect that a number of her children have already died of age-related illnesses and I do not think that many parents want to die before their children.

Even with your very healthy lifestyle, you probably will still not live above 100, but it will certainly feel like you did.

Sad to hear. rest In peace lady, hope you had a quality life.

I wonder how long will be an age that we can live as human knowledge beyond oblivion or diseases like Alzheimer's where the memories are going away. If we can only instinctively live animal/plant, I'm sure it could be counted much longer, let's see how it is determined to be the oldest age in the world. I hope much than ever science improvement to preserve the human knowledge longer.

People should live as long as they are happy.

Getting old isn't for wimps.

That's what Mom said her last 10 yrs.

Getting old isn't for wimps, but consider your options...

RIP Tajima-san, You had a good run. I hope you enjoyed it!

A 117-year old has just managed to defy nature.

Yes and no. This woman was born in 1900. Back then, the average life expectancy was like 30-35 yo.... If you made it to 50, you were a freak of nature. 100+ years later, we have more than doubled our life expectancy through better nutrition, and better living conditions.

By the end of this century (assuming that we don't all die from a nuclear holocaust or comet hitting us), We may see the human life expectancy to double again. The first bi-centurion may be alive today, and it could be you!

one third of all 99 year olds will die before they turn 100. That's how tough it is.

Tough? Look at it from the glass-half-full perspective, it you make it to 99, you have a two-thirds chance of making it to 100.

I'm willing to give it a bash.

 Back then, the average life expectancy was like 30-35 yo.... If you made it to 50, you were a freak of nature.

This is a common misconception. The 'average life expectancy' doesn't mean that people start dropping like flies as soon as they hit their thirties. Back in them days the child mortality rate was very high, and all those dead babies and infants brought the overall average way down. If you managed to reach your teens without succumbing to poor hygiene, poor nutrition or general neglect, the chance of hitting 40 or 50 or even higher was much better; not a freak of nature, but an instance of being lucky enough not to die of some (now) preventable disease, or childbirth (very dangerous for women at the time) or natural disaster (houses are better built these days). And if you made it to 50, you had a very good chance of seeing your 60th or even your 70th birthday.

Tajima-san had a good innings, and I hope Nonaka-san also makes every day count.

Active Lifestyle of Zero alcohol, no-smoking and almost never sweets should give me chance to get there.Maybe.

Sounds like your policy of almost never fun might be a hindrance.

Terrible news. Rest in Peace Tajima-San. Very sad news to read this, Tajima-San never got the chance to get the Guiness world record presentation. It is a testament to Japanese health and Japanese food that so many people here live to such an old age. I hope I also live to 117 or longer.

Terrible news. No! Sad news. No!

It is sad and tragic news. I assume Tajima-San really wanted to keep on living,and also her children and grand-children. If I make it to 100,I hope to live to 130 plus. Active Lifestyle of Zero alcohol, no-smoking and almost never sweets should give me chance to get there.Maybe.