World's oldest woman turns 116 in Japan

Wow. Triple digits, lucid and still enjoying beef stew. I'd like to try out extreme old age if my DNA is as hardy. Happy birthday Okawa san.

Happy Birthday, Obaachan!

How I'd love to hear her stories from the Meiji/Taishou era. I bet she has a lot of interesting tales to tell.

“It’s quite a long time.”

that's the coolest comment I've heard in a while. Happy Birthday!

I'll be lucky to reach half that. Congrats!

It must be quite nice in some way to know that EVERY one else in the world are your junior. If we extrapolate to respect your elders, then that is some respect!

Happy Birthday to you

Happy b-day Obatchan! I want to reach that age! I know it's impossible with all the westernised diet I'm used to.

Actually absolutely amazing she was born during the Meiji period, kind of boggles the mind!

May she live another 116 years.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

My grandparents are 92 and she was married before they were even born. Happy Bday

Happy Birthday to you. We love you.

You go, girl!

God bless you!

What those eyes must have seen.

She must be one of the last people on earth born in the 19th century and still alive. Quite an achievement. I hope she makes it to 120 or more.

They should have put 115 candles on her cake. 116 years! Here's to many more.

誕生日おめでとうございます！

There are over 50,000 centenarians in Japan. It's amazing living through the entire 20th century. Happy Birthday!

holy moly... thats amazing!

It is because of diet.. Japanese food however is being attacked with free trade and imports of food that are not healthy.. and kids eating McDonald's.. she should put out a memoir... and share her knowledge... I would be very interested in her and other Japanese and people in Okinawa who eat good foods, fish, organic rice, seaweed .. fruit? and drink sake and seem to live a long time.. while People in America are dropping like bees...

Funny then, that 2 of the 3 oldest people ever recorded were American, with the oldest being French...

There is more to it than diet.

Congratulations on not dying for 116 years! A wonderful achievement we can all aspire to. Happy birthday, Mrs. Okawa!

People are living longer these days. They say that the first person to live to be over 150 years is alive today, and the first person to live to be 1000 years old may be born in this century.

It is because of diet.. Japanese food however is being attacked with free trade and imports of food that are not healthy.. and kids eating McDonald's.. she should put out a memoir... and share her knowledge... I would be very interested in her and other Japanese and people in Okinawa who eat good foods, fish, organic rice, seaweed .. fruit? and drink sake and seem to live a long time.. while People in America are dropping like bees...

I thought this was a great picture of her last year:

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1014117/thumbs/o-MISAO-OKAWA-WORLDS-OLDEST-WOMAN-facebook.jpg