By Katrina Gracia Consebido
The world’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, died last April 19 at the age of 119 in Japan.
Tanaka was born on January 2, 1903, the seventh child of Kumakichi and Kuma Ota and grew up in Fukuoka where playing board games and doing math became her hobbies.
According to her family, Tanaka said she has been able to enjoy life because of the support of many people and hoped she can continue to be cheerful and energetic.
“I was able to come this far with the support of many people. I hope you will continue to have fun, [and be] cheerful and energetic,” Tanaka said.
In a post, her family confirmed she was recently “hospitalized and discharged repeatedly.”
Tanaka was chosen to be the torchbearer in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch rRelay which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the certificate presentation for her world record, the Guinness World Record handed her a box of chocolates. Her family said she had an appetite for chocolates and cola even on her last days. – ag
