People all over the world are saddened to hear that Kane Tanaka (Japan) passed away on 19 April 2022 at the age of 119.
The news has been confirmed by Senior Gerontology Consultant Robert Young, who also helped confirm Kane’s record as the oldest person living and oldest person living (female) in 2019.
According to a tweet posted by Kane’s family on the 13 April 2022, she had recently been “hospitalized and discharged repeatedly”.
She managed to reach a remarkable milestone of 119 years of age.
Kane said in a tweet posted by her family, “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.”
Kane was born on 2 January 1903 as the seventh child of Kumakichi and Kuma Ota.
She had been living at a rest home in Fukuoka, playing board games and doing maths.
Kane was selected as one of the torchbearers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay, though her participation was called off due to COVID-19.
She was also known to have a sweet tooth – on the day her official Guinness World Records certificate was presented to her, she also received a box of chocolates, which she immediately opened and started eating.
Even in her final days, her family said she still had an appetite for chocolate and cola.
