World’s oldest person dies at age 119

According to Guinness World Records, the oldest living person died at age 119. The Guinness World Records reported Monday that Kane Tanaka, a Japanese national, died last Tuesday. Tanaka's family tweeted on April 13 that she had been "hospitalized and discharged repeatedly." "I am grateful to many people for their support." The Japanese woman said, "I hope you will continue to be cheerful and energetic," according to a tweet from her family. Tanaka was confirmed as the oldest living person on March 9, 2019. A Guinness World Records profile of her at the time indicated she was born prematurely on Jan. 2, 1903. At the time, Tanaka was living in a rest home having survived colorectal cancer. The coronavirus pandemic canceled her participation as a torchbearer for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch Relay. The previous oldest living person was another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, who died at 117. The oldest person before Miyako was also Japanese. The title of the oldest person ever belongs to Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman who lived until she was 122 years and 164 days and died in 1997. Guinness said it was investigating who has the titles of oldest person living and oldest person living (female). "Guinness World Records expresses its deepest condolences to Kane's family," the company said in a statement. Guinness World Records reported that she woke up at 6 a.m. and spent her days studying math and playing Othello. She also had a sweet tooth, which her family said persisted through her final days, with requests for chocolate and cola. She raised five children and helped run a family business, which made and sold sticky rice, udon, and desserts.