Japanese Woman Extends Record As World’s Oldest Person

Kane Tanaka, who is the oldest person known to date, has extended her own record as she turned 117 on Sunday. She celebrated her birthday with her close ones at a nursing home in Fukuoka in southern Japan.

Her birthday celebrations were telecasted live via local broadcaster TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting Co. As she took a bite from a slice of her big birthday cake, she uttered, "Tasty, I want some more," with a smile.

She holds the Guinness world record for being the oldest person, honored last year as she turned 116 years 66 days old, as of March 9. On January 2, 2020, she extended her own record for the same.

Kane is known to have witnessed both world wars. Her age is symbolic of Japan’s fast-aging population. However, concerns have been rising because of their falling birth rate, which further increases the concerns about labor shortages and prospects for future economic growth.

Born in 1903, Kane was married to Hideo Tanaka in 1922 and the couple had four children and adopted a fifth.