In this generation, it is common to have a lifespan ending at the age of 60 to around 80.
It is remarkable to see people live past 90, and Kane Tanaka is one of the people who has surpassed a whole century by herself. It is almost impossible to live a long life, but she fights against the odds.
Kane Tanaka has been recognized as the oldest person to live on March 9, 2019. The previous holder had died at the age of 117 back in 2018. Right now, Kane Tanaka is 116 years and 76 days old.
Tanaka lives in the southern island located on Kyushu in Fukuoka, Japan. She had been born on January 2nd, 1903. She is a daughter out of eight under Kumakichi and Kuma Oto.
At the age of 19, she had gotten married to a man she never met before. His name was Hideo Tanaka, and they proceeded to have four children alongside an adopted child who became the fifth. At the time, they ran a family restaurant named Tanaka Mochiya; their specialties were to sell udon noodles and zenzai, a type of Japanese rice cake.
Though it is unfortunate, her husband had passed away back in the late 1930s while being enlisted in the military. Her eldest son, Nobuo, had the same fate when fighting in the Second World War, which made her focus on the family business herself with the help of Hideo’s mother.
There were complications such as eye cataract and was diagnosed with colon cancer when she reached the age of 103. Right now, she wakes up as early as 6 in the morning and has a routine of learning calligraphy and mathematics. Tanaka also goes on for walks and plays the board game, Othello, with other seniors and staff members at her residency.
She credits her family, faith, and lifestyle as her secrets to her long life. She also has a diet that consists of a lot of healthy food, which of course contributes to her longevity. Although, she has admitted that she’s had soda, coffee, and coffee sometimes, but is still kicking.
One of the main takeaways we should learn from Tanaka is to live life but don’t forget to enjoy it!