Kane Tanaka in September 2019.
Kane Tanaka [Japanese: 田中カ子] (née Ota; born 2 January 1903 - 19 April 2022)
is a Japanese supercentenarian who is the oldest living person in the world whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG).
Biography[]
Early life[]
Kane Tanaka was born in Kazuki Village (now Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, on 2 January 1903. She was the seventh of eight children born to Kumakichi and Kuma Ota, and was also born prematurely. She married Hideo Tanaka on 6 January 1922, although they didn't meet before the wedding. They had four children and adopted a fifth.
During World War II, Tanaka worked in her family's store (Tanaka Mochiya) selling rice cakes and noodles. Her son Nobuo was captured by the Soviets, but was released in 1947. She continued to work in the store before retiring at the age of 63. In the 1970s, she visited the United States, where she has several nieces and nephews.
Later life[]
At the age of 103, Tanaka was diagnosed with colon cancer but survived a five-hour-long surgery. When she was 107, her son wrote a book about her, which discusses her life and longevity.
Tanaka currently resides in Fukuoka prefecture, and has lived in a nursing home since 2005. At the age of 116, she can get around with the help of a walker, play Othello, and do math problems and calligraphy. Her favorite foods include chocolate, and pop beverages. She loves to write poetry and she can still remember her trips to the United States. She attributes her longevity to her faith in God.
Longevity records[]
Tanaka became the world's oldest validated living person upon the death of Chiyo Miyako on 22 July 2018. Following the death of Shimoe Akiyama, Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born in 1903 and the last person born in 1903 overall upon the death of Italian Maria Giuseppa Robucci on 18 June 2019.
On 9 March 2019, Kane Tanaka was officially presented with the "World's Oldest Living Person" and "World's Oldest Living Woman" titles by Guinness World Records. On 15 December 2019, Kane Tanaka became one of the ten oldest validated people ever recorded.
On 2 January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday, making her the fourth Japanese person to do so. She is currently the second-oldest person ever recorded from Japan, after Nabi Tajima. However, Tajima‘s age is disputed.
Gallery[]
See also[]
- List of Japanese supercentenarians
- Oldest people
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