World's oldest person celebrates 119th birthday

Happy birthday! I thought the oldest ever was a woman in France who made it to 122 a few years ago. Nonetheless Kane Tanaka must have been doing something right to make it this long. She's seen a lot during her life - radio, TV, space travel travel, internet. Survived WW1 and WW2, Sino-Japanese War, Japanese fascist era and the democracy it is today. She could tell so many stories because she lived it!

Happy Birthday, Kane Tanaka! Here's hoping you do reach 120!

Jeez that’s something. I wonder what her quality of life is. My grandfather died at the age at 101. Near the end he could barely walk and needed constant care. His mind was sharp but his body was failing and he wanted to die. I don’t think I’d want to live to be 119. It sounds terrible.

Starpunk, I think they mean the oldest living person. The French lady died a while ago.

I see very active old people a lot, amazing. They actually have Tokyo tennis tournament for over 85 year olds!

Good for her! Happy birthday.

I must admit I was stunned to read this :

She likes chocolate and carbonated drinks.

She must keep very active and usually eat only traditional Japanese cuisine. Id love to make it to the that age too. Heres wishing she celebrates many more birthdays!

Chocolate and carbonated drinks . . . It’s always interesting to know what people that old consume.

Incredible to see her relatively good physical and mental health, I hope in the middle term future it will not be newsworthy to have people surpassing 110 years of age.

It must be wonderful if she is still physically fit and mentally sound..

virusrexToday  11:11 am JST

Incredible to see her relatively good physical and mental health, I hope in the middle term future it will not be newsworthy to have people surpassing 110 years of age.

It just might. William Shatner is 90 years old and he went to outer space last year. Maybe by the time I reach 90 all these things mmay happen, as well as reaching 110.

Good they took a picture because with centenarians in Japan you never know. Many articles about siblings cashing in their pensions while living with the bodies…

What an amazing story! Happy Birthday!

Wow. All the incredible and tragic things she must have seen and lived through. It would be absolutely fascinating to have a conversation with her, to hear history through her perspective. Many Happy Returns, ma'am. All the best for 2022.

I hope I can just pop out while still in a good condition, I already have everything prepared just in case some truck gets me tomorrow, I would hate to go over 100 and be limited about what I can do or not.

She is living history, although I have no desire to reach such an age, I prefer quality over quantity.

Can be pretty sure that 'carbonated drinks' doesn't mean Coca Cola! Probably sparkling water....

Can be pretty sure that 'carbonated drinks' doesn't mean Coca Cola! Probably sparkling water..

It could be, specially because she also mentions chocolate in the same phrase. Even junk food may not be a problem if consumed only sporadically.

Imagine how young her mind is. She eats chocolate and fizzy drinks. Like young people.

She was my age during WWII. Suddenly I don't feel so old anymore. Thanks, Tanaka-sama, and happy birthday!