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{{Infobox person
 
{{Infobox person
 
|Kane Tanaka
 
|Kane Tanaka
|status = living-verified
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|status = deceased-verified
|image = Kane_Tanaka_117.jpg |image size=308
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|image = Kane Tanaka 117.jpg |image size = 286
|caption = Tanaka celebrating her 117th birthday in 2020
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|caption = Tanaka celebrating her 117th birthday in January 2020.
 
|sex = Female
 
|sex = Female
 
|nationality = Japanese
 
|nationality = Japanese
 
|birthyr = 1903 |birthplace = Wajiro (now Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
 
|birthyr = 1903 |birthplace = Wajiro (now Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
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|deathyr = 2022 |deathplace = Fukuoka, Japan
 
|sort = Tanaka, Kane
 
|sort = Tanaka, Kane
 
}}<!--
 
}}<!--
-->'''Kane Tanaka''' [Japanese: '''田中カ子'''] (née '''Ota'''; born 2 January 1903) is a Japanese [[supercentenarian]] who, at the age of {{AgeYD|1903|1|2}}, is recognised by [[Guinness World Records]] as the oldest living person in the world. Her age is also validated by [[Gerontology Research Group]] (GRG).
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-->'''Kane Tanaka''' [Japanese: '''田中カ子'''] (née '''Ota''' [Japanese: '''太田''']; 2 January 1903 (claimed 26 December 1902) – 19 April 2022) was a Japanese [[Supercentenarian|supercentenarian]] who, at the age of 119 years, 107 days, is the [[Oldest Validated supercentenarians All-Time|second-oldest person in history]] whose age is validated by the [[Gerontology Research Group]] (GRG), behind only [[Jeanne Calment]] of France, who was over three years older than her.
   
  +
At the time of her death, Tanaka was recognized by [[Guinness World Records]] as being the [[World's Oldest Person titleholders|oldest validated living person in the world]] from the death of 117-year-old [[Chiyo Miyako]] on 22 July 2018, until her own death on 19 April 2022. Since surpassing the final age of [[Nabi Tajima]] in September 2020, Tanaka has held the record as the [[List of Japanese supercentenarians#List of Japanese supercentenarians|longest-lived Japanese person of all-time]] whose age is validated by the GRG.
Since surpassing the age of [[Nabi Tajima]] in September 2020, Tanaka has held the record as the longest-lived Japanese person of all-time whose age has been validated by the GRG. Furthermore, she also became the third-oldest validated person in world history, after [[Jeanne Calment]] and [[Sarah Knauss]]. In January 2021, Tanaka became only the third validated person ever to reach the age of 118.
 
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In January 2022, Tanaka became only the third validated person on record to reach the age of 119, and the first to do so since [[Sarah Knauss]] in September 1999. On 10 April 2022, just nine days before her death, Tanaka surpassed Knauss's final age of 119 years, 97 days to become the [[Oldest Validated supercentenarians All-Time|second-oldest validated person in history]].
   
 
==Biography==
 
==Biography==
 
===Early Life===
 
===Early Life===
Kane Tanaka was born prematurely on 2 January 1903 in the village of Wajiro (now part the city of Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She was the seventh of either eight or nine children (sources differ) born to Kumakichi and Kuma Ota. She married her cousin Hideo Tanaka on 6 January 1922, although they did not meet before the wedding. The couple had four children and adopted a fifth. Their eldest daughter died shortly after birth, and their second daughter died aged one in 1947, while their adopted daughter died aged 23 in 1945.
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Kane Tanaka was born prematurely as Kane Ota [Japanese: 太田カ子] on 2 January 1903, in the village of Wajiro (now part of the city of Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She was the seventh of either eight or nine children (sources differ) born to Kumakichi and Kuma Ota. Tanaka and her family claimed that she was actually born on 26 December 1902 and that her parents delayed the process of filing the report for a week because they weren't sure if she would survive.
   
 
[[File:Kane Tanaka4.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Tanaka (aged 23) with her family and relatives in 1926. From left: Hideo Tanaka, Kane Tanaka, Nobuo Tanaka, Tsuruko Kunimasa, and Toyoko Nakamura.]]
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. After the war, Tanaka converted to Christianity under the influence of pastors stationed in Japan by the United States military. She continued to work in the store before retiring at the age of 63. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 1972, Tanaka and her husband travelled to the United States, where she has family, and they visited Disneyland.
 
  +
Tanaka's early childhood was during the last years of the [[Wikipedia:Meiji (era)|Meiji period]], which ended when she was nine, in 1912. She married her cousin Hideo Tanaka (19 June 1902 – 9 February 1993) on 6 January 1922, although they did not meet before their wedding. The couple had four children and adopted a fifth. Their eldest daughter died shortly after birth, and their second daughter died at the age of one in 1947, while their adopted daughter died at the age of 23 in 1945.
   
 
During the Second World War, 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. After the war, Tanaka converted to Christianity under the influence of pastors stationed in Japan by the United States military. She continued to work in the store before retiring at the age of 63. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 1972, Tanaka and her husband travelled to the United States, where she has family, and they visited [[Wikipedia: Disneyland|Disneyland]].
===Later life===
 
Tanaka's husband died in 1993 after 71 years of marriage. At the age of 90, Tanaka underwent an operation for cataracts, and at the age of 103 she survived a bout of colon cancer, also having to undergo surgery. When she was 107, her son wrote a book about her life and longevity. Tanaka enjoys calligraphy, writing poetry, playing [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reversi#Othello Othello], and doing math problems. She enjoys eating chocolate and drinking Coca-Cola. Tanaka attributes her longevity to her faith in God.
 
   
 
===Later Life===
Since 2005, Tanaka has lived in a nursing home in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. When she was 116, it was reported that she could get around with the help of a walker. In January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday with family and friends at her nursing home. However, in January 2021 she was not able to celebrate her 118th birthday in the same manner due to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic COVID-19 pandemic].
 
 
Tanaka's husband died in 1993 after 71 years of marriage. At the age of 90, Tanaka underwent an operation for cataracts, and at the age of 103, she survived a bout of colon cancer, also having to undergo surgery. When she was 107, her son wrote a book about her life and longevity.
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[[File:Kane 27 January 2020 (2).png|thumb|250px|Tanaka (aged 117) playing Othello on 27 January 2020.]]
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Tanaka enjoyed calligraphy, writing poetry, playing [[Wikipedia:Reversi#Othello|Othello]], and doing math problems. She also enjoyed eating chocolate, as well as having soft drinks, most notably [[Wikipedia:Coca-Cola|Coca-Cola]] and [[Wikipedia:Oronamin C|Oronamin C]]. Tanaka stated that she had wanted to live to the age of 120. She attributed her longevity to her faith in God.
  +
 
From 2005 until her death, Tanaka lived in a nursing home in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. When she was 116, it was reported that she could get around with the help of a walker. In January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday with family and friends at her nursing home. However, in January 2021, she was not able to celebrate her 118th birthday in the same manner due to the [[Wikipedia:COVID-19_pandemic| COVID-19 pandemic]].
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[[File:Kane 05 February 2021.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Tanaka (aged 118) pictured on 5 February 2021.]]
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In March 2021, it was reported by her relative on social media that Tanaka had fallen ill shortly after turning 118, but had successfully recovered. In a February 2021 photo, Tanaka was pictured wearing an [[Wikipedia:Nasal cannula|oxygen tube]].
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Tanaka was scheduled to carry the [[Wikipedia:Olympic torch|Olympic torch]] during the delayed [[Wikipedia: 2020 Summer Olympics torch relay| 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch relay]] when the flame passed through Shime, Fukuoka, on 11 May 2021. It was expected that Tanaka's family would push her in a wheelchair for most of her 100-metre leg, but she may have walked the final few steps before passing the torch to the next runner. However, due to the rise of [[Wikipedia:COVID-19 pandemic in Japan|COVID-19 cases in Japan]], it was decided that it would not be safe for this to happen.
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Around September 2021, Tanaka received the [[Wikipedia:COVID-19 vaccine|COVID-19 vaccine]], making her the [[List of oldest people vaccinated against COVID-19|oldest validated person to get vaccinated against the disease]].
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===Death===
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[[File:Kane2022.jpg|thumb|250px|Tanaka (aged 119) in March 2022, the last known photo of her.]]
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On 13 April 2022, just six days before her death, it was reported by Tanaka's family on [[Wikipedia:Twitter|Twitter]] (Now called X) that she had repeatedly been in and out of the hospital, but despite her health declining, she still enjoyed eating chocolate, as well as drinking Coca-Cola and Oronamin C.
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  +
Tanaka died from natural causes at a hospital in Fukuoka, Japan on 19 April 2022 at the age of 119 years, 107 days at 6:11 PM. Her death was not publicly announced until 25 April. Following her death, [[Lucile Randon]] of France became the world's oldest validated living person, and [[Fusa Tatsumi]] of Osaka Prefecture became the oldest validated living person in Japan.
   
 
==Longevity Records==
 
==Longevity Records==
Tanaka became the world's oldest validated living person upon the death of [[Chiyo Miyako]] on 22 July 2018. Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born in 1903 following the death of [[Shimoe Akiyama]] on 29 January 2019, and the last person in the world born in 1903 following the death of Italian [[Maria Giuseppa Robucci]] on 18 June 2019.
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Tanaka became the world's oldest validated living person upon the death of [[Chiyo Miyako]] on 22 July 2018. Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born in 1903, following the death of [[Shimoe Akiyama]] on 29 January 2019. She also became the last surviving validated person in the world [[List of supercentenarians born in 1903|born in 1903]], following the death of [[Maria Giuseppa Robucci]] of Italy on 18 June 2019.
   
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[[File:Kane Tanaka1.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Tanaka (aged 116) being recognized by Guinness World Records on 9 March 2019.]]
 
On 9 March 2019, 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, she became one of the ten oldest validated people ever recorded after surpassing [[Maria Capovilla]]'s final age of 116 years, 347 days.
 
On 9 March 2019, 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, she became one of the ten oldest validated people ever recorded after surpassing [[Maria Capovilla]]'s final age of 116 years, 347 days.
   
On 2 January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday, making her the fourth Japanese person to do so. Upon reaching the age of 117 years, 261 days on 19 September 2020, Tanaka broke [[Nabi Tajima]]'s record to become the longest-lived validated Japanese person ever recorded. She also became the third-oldest human being of all-time, after [[Jeanne Calment]] and [[Sarah Knauss]]. On 2 January 2021, Tanaka celebrated her 118th birthday; this was only the third time in history that a person has verifiably reached the age of 118, and the first such birthday since 1998.
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On 2 January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday, making her the fourth Japanese person to do so. Upon reaching the age of 117 years, 261 days on 19 September 2020, Tanaka broke [[Nabi Tajima]]'s record to become the longest-lived validated Japanese person ever recorded. She also became the third-oldest validated human being of all-time, after [[Jeanne Calment]] and [[Sarah Knauss]].
   
  +
On 2 January 2021, Tanaka celebrated her 118th birthday; this was only the third time in history that a person has verifiably reached the age of 118, and the first such birthday since September 1998.
==Gallery==
 
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On 2 January 2022, Tanaka celebrated her 119th birthday, making her only the third validated person in history to reach this age, and the first such birthday since September 1999.
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Following the death of [[Yoshi Otsunari]] on 26 January 2022, Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born before 1907.
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Tanaka, along with [[Lucile Randon]], outlived every supercentenarian (excluding [[List of longevity claims|longevity claimants]]) [[List of supercentenarians born in 1905|born in 1905]], following the death of [[Antonia da Santa Cruz]] of Brazil on 23 January 2022.
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On 10 April 2022, Tanaka became the second-oldest validated person in history, surpassing Sarah Knauss's final age of 119 years, 97 days.
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Tanaka died on 19 April 2022, at the age of 119 years, 107 days, just nine days after surpassing Knauss's record. She remains the only Japanese person to reach the ages of 118 and 119, one of only four people to reach the age of 118 (the others being Jeanne Calment, Sarah Knauss, and Lucile Randon), and one of only three people to reach the age of 119 (the others being Jeanne Calment and Sarah Knauss).
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Gallery
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''For more pictures, please see: [[Kane Tanaka/Gallery]].''
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
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Kane Tanaka B&W.png|Black and white photograph of Tanaka (aged 20) in 1923.
Kane Tanaka3.jpg|Kane (front row, centre) with her brothers and sisters
 
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Kane 1923 color.jpg|Colored photograph of Tanaka (aged 20) in 1923.
Kane Tanaka4.jpg|Photos with family and relatives. From left: Hideo Tanaka, Kane Tanaka, Nobuo Tanaka, Tsuruko Kunimasa, Toyoko Nakamura
 
Kane Tanaka2.jpg|From right: Kane Tanaka, Hana and Nao Sakai (sisters), Kiyoshi Ota (younger brother), around 1992
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Kane Tanaka3.jpg|Tanaka (aged 20; front row, center) with her brothers and sisters in 1923.
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Kane 1940.png|Black and white photograph of Tanaka (aged 32) in 1935.
KaneTanaka102.jpg|Tanaka at 102
 
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Kane Tanaka 1935 color.png|Colored photograph of Tanaka (aged 32) in 1935.
KaneTanaka103.jpeg|Tanaka at 103
 
Quizz.jpeg|Kane Tanaka at the age of 113
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Kane 1945,.jpg|Tanaka (aged 42) in 1945.
KTanaka115 (2).jpg|Tanaka at the age of 115 in July 2018
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Kane 1946.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 43) in 1946.
Kane Tanaka mayor Sep2018.png|Tanaka, aged 115, with Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima in September 2018
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Kane 1947.jpg|Tanaka (aged 44) in 1947.
Kane Tanaka1.jpg|Kane Tanaka being recognised by Guinness World Records, March 2019
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Kane Tanaka 1972.png.jpg|Tanaka (aged 69) in 1972.
Kane Tanaka c.May2019.jpg|Tanaka at the age of 116 in the spring of 2019
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Kane 1972 (2).png|Tanaka (aged 69) in 1972.
KaneTanakaSept2019.jpg|Kane Tanaka in September 2019
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Kane 1983.png|Tanaka (aged 80) in 1983.
Kane_Tanaka_July_2020.jpg|Tanaka in July 2020, aged 117
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Kane 1990s.jpg|Tanaka in the 1990s.
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Kane Tanaka2.jpg|From right: Kane Tanaka, Hana and [[Nao Sakai]] (sisters), and Kiyoshi Ota (younger brother), around 1992.
Kane_Tanaka2020.9.12.jpg|Tanaka in September 2020, aged 117
 
Kane Tanaka Nov2020.jpeg|Tanaka in November 2020, aged 117
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Kane 11 August 99.png|Tanaka (aged 96) on 11 August 1999.
Kane January 21.png|Tanaka on her 118th birthday in January 2021
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Kane Tanaka 1999 Family.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 96) with her family on 11 August 1999.
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Kane 2000s.png.jpg|Tanaka with her family in the 2000s.
 
KaneTanaka102.jpg|Tanaka (aged 102) in 2005.
 
KaneTanaka103.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 103) in 2006.
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Kane 18 Mars 2006 (2).jpeg|Tanaka (aged 103) on 18 March 2006.
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Kane 22 April 07.png|Tanaka (aged 104) on 22 April 2007.
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Kane Tanaka 2007 family.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 104) with her family on 22 April 2007.
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Kane 2008.png|Tanaka (aged 105) in 2008.
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Kane 2010.jpg|Tanaka (aged 107) in 2010.
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Kane Tanaka107.png|Tanaka (aged 107) in 2010.
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Kane 2013.png|Tanaka (aged 110) in 2013.
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Quizz.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 113) in 2016.
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Kane 2017.png|Tanaka (aged 114) in 2017.
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Kane 02 January 18.jpg|Tanaka on her 115th birthday in 2018.
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KTanaka115s-2.jpg|Tanaka (aged 115) standing in 2018.
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KTanaka115 (2).jpg|Tanaka (aged 115) on 27 July 2018, after being confirmed as the world's oldest living person.
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Kane 29 July 2018.jpg|Tanaka (aged 115) on 29 July 2018.
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Kane Tanaka mayor Sep2018.png|Tanaka (aged 115) with Fukuoka City Mayor Soichiro Takashima in September 2018.
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Kane 17 September 2018.png|Tanaka (aged 115) on 17 September 2018.
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Kane October 2018.jpg|Tanaka (aged 115) on 6 October 2018.
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Kane Tanaka 6Oct2018.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 115) on 6 October 2018.
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Kane 13 January 2019.png|Tanaka (aged 116) on 13 January 2019.
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Kane Mi-January 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) in mid-January 2019.
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Kane Tanaka March2019 Walker.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 116) using a walker on 9 March 2019, just moments before being recognized by [[Guinness World Records]].
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KTanaka116.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 9 March 2019, being recognized by Guinness World Records.
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Kane 10 July 20.png|Tanaka (aged 116) in March 2019.
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Kane 26 March 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 26 March 2019.
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Kane 1 April 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 1 April 2019.
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Kane 22 April 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 22 April 2019.
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Kane Tanaka c.May2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) in the spring of 2019.
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Kane 1 June 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 1 June 2019.
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Kane 1st September 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 1 September 2019.
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KaneTanakaSept2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) on 11 September 2019.
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Kane Tanaka c.Dec2019.webp|Tanaka (aged 116) using a walker around December 2019.
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Kane December 2019.jpg|Tanaka (aged 116) in December 2019.
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Kane Tanaka 117th celebration.jpeg|Tanaka celebrating her 117th birthday in January 2020.
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Kane Tanaka 5 Jan 2020.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 117) on 5 January 2020.
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Kane 27 January 2020.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 117) on 27 January 2020.
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Kane July 2020.jpg|Tanaka (aged 117) in July 2020.
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Kane Tanaka July 2020.jpg|Tanaka (aged 117) on 26 July 2020.
 
Kane Tanaka2020.9.12.jpg|Tanaka (aged 117) in September 2020.
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Kane Tanaka Sept2020.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 117) in September 2020, after becoming Japan's oldest person ever.
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Kane 5 Octobre 20.jpg|Tanaka (aged 117) on 25 September 2020.
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Kane Tanaka Nov2020.jpeg|Tanaka (aged 117) in November 2020.
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Kane January 21.png|Tanaka on her 118th birthday in January 2021.
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Kane March 2021.jpg|Tanaka (aged 118) in March 2021.
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Kane April 2021.jpg|Tanaka (aged 118) on 23 April 2021.
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Kane 13 September 2021 (2).jpg|Tanaka (aged 118) in September 2021.
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Kane December 2021.jpg|Tanaka (aged 118; almost 119) in December 2021.
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Kane Tanaka 119th.jpeg|Tanaka celebrating her 119th birthday in January 2022.
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Kane 5 January 2022.jpg|Tanaka (aged 119) on 5 January 2022.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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==See Also==
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*[[Jeanne Calment]] (1875–1997), the oldest validated person ever.
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*[[Jiroemon Kimura]] (1897–2013), the oldest validated Japanese man ever, as well as the oldest validated man ever.
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*[[Sarah Knauss]] (1880–1999), previously held the record as the second-oldest validated person ever.
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*[[Lucile Randon]] (1904–2023), Tanaka's successor as the oldest validated living person in the world.
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*[[Fusa Tatsumi]] (1907–2023), Tanaka's successor as the oldest validated living person in Japan.
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*[[List of supercentenarians born in 1903]]
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*[[List of supercentenarians who died in 2022]]
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*[[List of Japanese supercentenarians]]
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*[[List of Fukuoka supercentenarians]]
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*[[National longevity recordholders]]
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*[[Oldest Validated supercentenarians All-Time]]
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*[[World's Oldest Person titleholders]]
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*[[Longest WOP title reigns]]
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
*[http://www.grg.org/Adams/TableE.html World Supercentenarian Rankings List] Gerontology Research Group
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*[https://grg.org/WSRL/TableE.aspx GRG World Supercentenarian Rankings List] Gerontology Research Group
 
*[https://grg.org/Gallery/1903Gallery.html#Kane_Tanaka Kane Tanaka, 116] Photo Gallery, GRG
 
*[https://grg.org/Gallery/1903Gallery.html#Kane_Tanaka Kane Tanaka, 116] Photo Gallery, GRG
  +
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20160322004711/http://dw.diamond.ne.jp/articles/-/1116 【福岡県】 一人ひとりが持ち味を発揮して 入居者の“思い”に応えるホーム] Diamond Weekly, 31 March 2012 <small>(Archived)</small>
 
*[http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/06/113-year-old-kane-tanaka-supercentenarian/ San Marcos couple celebrate aunt’s 113th year] The San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2016
 
*[http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/06/113-year-old-kane-tanaka-supercentenarian/ San Marcos couple celebrate aunt’s 113th year] The San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2016
 
*[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL7W3QJRL7WTIPE00K.html 国内最高齢115歳、入所者励ます 「頑張りんしゃい」] Asahi Shimbun, 27 July 2018
 
*[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASL7W3QJRL7WTIPE00K.html 国内最高齢115歳、入所者励ます 「頑張りんしゃい」] Asahi Shimbun, 27 July 2018
 
*[https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180728/k00/00m/040/039000c 田中カ子さん115歳「-死ぬ気全然せんです」] Mainichi Shimbun, 27 July 2018
 
*[https://mainichi.jp/articles/20180728/k00/00m/040/039000c 田中カ子さん115歳「-死ぬ気全然せんです」] Mainichi Shimbun, 27 July 2018
 
*[https://www.sankei.com/west/news/180727/wst1807270057-n1.html 115歳国内最高齢の田中カ子さん 「みんなのおかげ」と感謝 カフェオレ毎日3、4本] The Sankei News, 27 July 2018
 
*[https://www.sankei.com/west/news/180727/wst1807270057-n1.html 115歳国内最高齢の田中カ子さん 「みんなのおかげ」と感謝 カフェオレ毎日3、4本] The Sankei News, 27 July 2018
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*[https://www.newsweek.com/who-worlds-oldest-person-miyako-chiyo-dies-117-passing-title-kane-tanaka-1044901 Who Is the World's Oldest Person? Chiyo Miyako Dies at 117, Passing Title to Kane Tanaka] Newsweek, 27 July 2018
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*[https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/worlds-oldest-person-dies-at-117-now-115-year-old-is-oldest/ World’s oldest person dies at 117, now 115-year-old is oldest] Las Vegas Review-Journal, 27 July 2018
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*[https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/ballyheigue-native-meets-the-worlds-oldest-person-37452051.html Ballyheigue native meets the world's oldest person] Irish Independent, 27 October 2018
 
*[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/3/worlds-oldest-person-confirmed-as-116-year-old-kane-tanaka-from-japan World’s oldest person confirmed as 116-year-old Kane Tanaka from Japan] Guinness World Records, 9 March 2019
 
*[http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2019/3/worlds-oldest-person-confirmed-as-116-year-old-kane-tanaka-from-japan World’s oldest person confirmed as 116-year-old Kane Tanaka from Japan] Guinness World Records, 9 March 2019
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*[https://www.thedailymeal.com/worlds-oldest-person-kane-tanaka-loves-these-foods/031119 The World's Oldest Person Can't Get Enough Of These Foods] The Daily Meal, 11 March 2019
*[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM4W64ZYM4WTIPE01X.html 明治から生きる116歳描く夢 令和も「長生きしたい」] The Asahi Shimbun, 30 April 2019
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*[https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASM4W64ZYM4WTIPE01X.html 明治から生きる116歳描く夢 令和も「長生きしたい」]The Asahi Shimbun, 30 April 2019
 
*[https://www.rafu.com/2019/06/ja-connections-to-worlds-oldest-person/ JA CONNECTIONS TO WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON] The Rafu Shimpo, 1 June 2019
 
*[https://www.rafu.com/2019/06/ja-connections-to-worlds-oldest-person/ JA CONNECTIONS TO WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON] The Rafu Shimpo, 1 June 2019
 
*[https://ameblo.jp/tairaseitai/entry-12505081284.html 現在、地球上で最高齢の田中カ子さんにお会いしてきました!] Blog post, 12 August 2019
 
*[https://ameblo.jp/tairaseitai/entry-12505081284.html 現在、地球上で最高齢の田中カ子さんにお会いしてきました!] Blog post, 12 August 2019
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*[https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO54012990S0A100C2CR8000 最高齢田中さん117歳に 戦争、病越え5時代生きる] The Nikkei, 2 January 2020
 
*[https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO54012990S0A100C2CR8000 最高齢田中さん117歳に 戦争、病越え5時代生きる] The Nikkei, 2 January 2020
 
*[https://news.sky.com/story/kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-woman-celebrates-her-117th-birthday-11901905 Kane Tanaka: World's oldest woman celebrates her 117th birthday] Sky News, 6 January 2020
 
*[https://news.sky.com/story/kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-woman-celebrates-her-117th-birthday-11901905 Kane Tanaka: World's oldest woman celebrates her 117th birthday] Sky News, 6 January 2020
  +
*[https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/611595/kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-living-person-turns-117 Kane Tanaka, World’s Oldest Living Person, Just Celebrated Her 117th Birthday] Mental Floss, 8 January 2020
*[https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/4326f937622c0bee35efacc70473f5937b90ec4b 117歳の田中さんに特製チョコ 世界最高齢「老人の日」でお祝い] Yahoo Japan, 14 September 2020
+
*[https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/4326f937622c0bee35efacc70473f5937b90ec4b 117歳の田中さんに特製チョコ 世界最高齢「老人の日」でお祝い] Yahoo! Japan, 14 September 2020
 
*[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/09/5e5c26158954-tanaka-sets-new-japan-age-record-at-117-years-261-days.html?fbclid=IwAR2q8R9_82Lb2YuvbplBaKED9I6rgCJjobm-g8QEvK77_jn0HuDgBw32GOw Tanaka sets new Japan age record at 117 years, 261 days] Kyodo News, 19 September 2020
 
*[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/09/5e5c26158954-tanaka-sets-new-japan-age-record-at-117-years-261-days.html?fbclid=IwAR2q8R9_82Lb2YuvbplBaKED9I6rgCJjobm-g8QEvK77_jn0HuDgBw32GOw Tanaka sets new Japan age record at 117 years, 261 days] Kyodo News, 19 September 2020
 
*[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/21/woman-117-marks-becoming-japans-oldest-ever-person-with-cola-and-boardgames Woman, 117, marks becoming Japan's oldest ever person with cola and boardgame] The Guardian, 21 September 2020
 
*[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/21/woman-117-marks-becoming-japans-oldest-ever-person-with-cola-and-boardgames Woman, 117, marks becoming Japan's oldest ever person with cola and boardgame] The Guardian, 21 September 2020
 
*[https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201104/p2a/00m/0na/020000c Oldest person in world from west Japan aged 117 to join 2021 Olympic torch relay] Mainichi Shimbun, 5 November 2020
 
*[https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201104/p2a/00m/0na/020000c Oldest person in world from west Japan aged 117 to join 2021 Olympic torch relay] Mainichi Shimbun, 5 November 2020
  +
*[https://runningmagazine.ca/the-scene/117-year-old-woman-set-to-carry-olympic-torch-ahead-of-tokyo-games/ 117-year-old woman set to carry Olympic torch ahead of Tokyo Games] Canadian Running Magazine, 12 November 2020
 
*[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/02/national/worlds-oldest-person-marks-118th-birthday-fukuoka/ World's oldest person marks 118th birthday in Fukuoka] The Japan Times, 2 January 2021
 
*[https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/01/02/national/worlds-oldest-person-marks-118th-birthday-fukuoka/ World's oldest person marks 118th birthday in Fukuoka] The Japan Times, 2 January 2021
 
*[https://twitter.com/tanakakane0102/status/1345207471019753473 【快挙】誕生日を迎え、ついに、日本人初の118歳になりました...] @tanakakane0102 on Twitter, 2 January 2021
 
*[https://twitter.com/tanakakane0102/status/1345207471019753473 【快挙】誕生日を迎え、ついに、日本人初の118歳になりました...] @tanakakane0102 on Twitter, 2 January 2021
  +
*[https://twitter.com/tanakakane0102/status/1366692154899263489 お久しぶりです...] @tanakakane0102 on Twitter, 2 March 2021
{{titleholders-oldest-living}}
 
  +
*[https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/04/sport/japan-supercentenarian-olympic-torchbearer-hnk-intl/index.html CNN Exclusive: Aged 118, the world's oldest living person will carry the Olympic flame in Japan] CNN, 5 March 2021
  +
*[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57006198 Tokyo Olympics: World's oldest person pulls out of torch relay] BBC, 6 May 2021
  +
*[https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/01/470a5632ca96-worlds-oldest-person-in-japan-celebrates-119th-birthday.html World's oldest person in Japan celebrates 119th birthday] Kyodo News, 2 January 2022
  +
*[https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/03/asia/kane-tanaka-turns-119-intl-scli/index.html Kane Tanaka, the world’s oldest living person, turns 119] CNN, 3 January 2022
  +
*[https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/who-kane-tanaka-the-world-oldest-person-ever-live-celebrates-119th-birthday-japan Who is Kane Tanaka? World’s oldest living person celebrates 119th birthday in Japan] Sportskeeda, 3 January 2022
  +
*[https://www.ksbw.com/article/the-worlds-oldest-living-person-turns-119/38656358# 'Live life cheerfully': The world's oldest living person turns 119] KSBW, 3 January 2022
  +
*[https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/10-longevity-secrets-from-japanese-super-centenarian-kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-living-person-just-turned/846307 10 Longevity secrets from 119-year-old Japanese woman Kane Tanaka] Times Now, 4 January 2022
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*[https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/48791/20220106/world-s-oldest-living-person-119-years-old.htm Meet Kane Tanaka, World’s Oldest Living Person Who Recently Turned 119!] Nature World News, 6 January 2022
  +
*[https://www.dogonews.com/2022/1/19/kane-tanaka-the-worlds-oldest-living-person-just-turned-119 Kane Tanaka, The World's Oldest Living Person, Just Turned 119!] DOGO News, 19 January 2022
  +
*[https://newsable.asianetnews.com/world/meet-world-s-oldest-person-kane-tanaka-from-japan-who-is-119-year-old-gcw-r8m3y1 Meet world's oldest person Kane Tanaka from Japan, who is 119-years-old] Asianet News, 12 March 2022
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*[https://news.line.me/detail/linenews/8e52f610f10b 世界最高齢、福岡市の田中カ子さんが死去 119歳] News.line, 25 April 2022
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*[https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/kane-tanaka-1903-2022-worlds-oldest-person/ Kane Tanaka (1903–2022), world’s oldest person] Legacy.com, 25 April 2022
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*[https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2022/4/worlds-oldest-person-kane-tanaka-dies-aged-119-699226 World's oldest person, Kane Tanaka, dies aged 119] Guinness World Records, 25 April 2022
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*[https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/25/asia/worlds-oldest-dies-scli-intl/index.html World's oldest person, Kane Tanaka, dies in Japan aged 119] CNN, 25 April 2022
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*[https://www.newsweek.com/kane-tanaka-world-oldest-person-longevity-secrets-1700575 Longevity Secrets From Kane Tanaka, the Second Oldest Person to Ever Live] Newsweek, 25 April 2022
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*[https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/4/26/kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-person-dies-at-119 Kane Tanaka, world’s oldest person, dies at 119] Al Jazeera, 26 April 2022
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*[https://www.tastingtable.com/844307/this-was-the-go-to-diet-of-the-worlds-oldest-person/ This Was The Go-To Diet Of The World's Oldest Person] Tasting Table, 26 April 2022
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*[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/239202440/kane-tanaka Kane ''Ota'' Tanaka] Find A Grave
 
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[[pt-br:Kane Tanaka]]
 
[[pt-br:Kane Tanaka]]
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[[Category:Fukuoka births]]
 
[[Category:Fukuoka births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
 
[[Category:Supercentenarians with centenarian siblings]]
 
 
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[[Category:Supercentenarians with centenarian siblings]]
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[[Category:National Record Holders]]
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[[Category:Covid-19 vaccine recipients]]
 
[[Category:Deceased people]]

Latest revision as of 02:59, 6 March 2024

Kane Tanaka
Kane Tanaka
Tanaka celebrating her 117th birthday in January 2020.
Birth: 2 January 1903
Wajiro (now Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Death: 19 April 2022
Fukuoka, Japan
Age: 119 years, 107 days
Country: JapanJPN
Validated

Kane Tanaka [Japanese: 田中カ子] (née Ota [Japanese: 太田]; 2 January 1903 (claimed 26 December 1902) – 19 April 2022) was a Japanese supercentenarian who, at the age of 119 years, 107 days, is the second-oldest person in history whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG), behind only Jeanne Calment of France, who was over three years older than her.

At the time of her death, Tanaka was recognized by Guinness World Records as being the oldest validated living person in the world from the death of 117-year-old Chiyo Miyako on 22 July 2018, until her own death on 19 April 2022. Since surpassing the final age of Nabi Tajima in September 2020, Tanaka has held the record as the longest-lived Japanese person of all-time whose age is validated by the GRG.

In January 2022, Tanaka became only the third validated person on record to reach the age of 119, and the first to do so since Sarah Knauss in September 1999. On 10 April 2022, just nine days before her death, Tanaka surpassed Knauss's final age of 119 years, 97 days to become the second-oldest validated person in history.

Biography

Early Life

Kane Tanaka was born prematurely as Kane Ota [Japanese: 太田カ子] on 2 January 1903, in the village of Wajiro (now part of the city of Fukuoka), Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. She was the seventh of either eight or nine children (sources differ) born to Kumakichi and Kuma Ota. Tanaka and her family claimed that she was actually born on 26 December 1902 and that her parents delayed the process of filing the report for a week because they weren't sure if she would survive.

Kane Tanaka4

Tanaka (aged 23) with her family and relatives in 1926. From left: Hideo Tanaka, Kane Tanaka, Nobuo Tanaka, Tsuruko Kunimasa, and Toyoko Nakamura.

Tanaka's early childhood was during the last years of the Meiji period, which ended when she was nine, in 1912. She married her cousin Hideo Tanaka (19 June 1902 – 9 February 1993) on 6 January 1922, although they did not meet before their wedding. The couple had four children and adopted a fifth. Their eldest daughter died shortly after birth, and their second daughter died at the age of one in 1947, while their adopted daughter died at the age of 23 in 1945.

During the Second World War, 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. After the war, Tanaka converted to Christianity under the influence of pastors stationed in Japan by the United States military. She continued to work in the store before retiring at the age of 63. To celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 1972, Tanaka and her husband travelled to the United States, where she has family, and they visited Disneyland.

Later Life

Tanaka's husband died in 1993 after 71 years of marriage. At the age of 90, Tanaka underwent an operation for cataracts, and at the age of 103, she survived a bout of colon cancer, also having to undergo surgery. When she was 107, her son wrote a book about her life and longevity.

Kane 27 January 2020 (2)

Tanaka (aged 117) playing Othello on 27 January 2020.

Tanaka enjoyed calligraphy, writing poetry, playing Othello, and doing math problems. She also enjoyed eating chocolate, as well as having soft drinks, most notably Coca-Cola and Oronamin C. Tanaka stated that she had wanted to live to the age of 120. She attributed her longevity to her faith in God.

From 2005 until her death, Tanaka lived in a nursing home in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan. When she was 116, it was reported that she could get around with the help of a walker. In January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday with family and friends at her nursing home. However, in January 2021, she was not able to celebrate her 118th birthday in the same manner due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kane 05 February 2021

Tanaka (aged 118) pictured on 5 February 2021.

In March 2021, it was reported by her relative on social media that Tanaka had fallen ill shortly after turning 118, but had successfully recovered. In a February 2021 photo, Tanaka was pictured wearing an oxygen tube.

Tanaka was scheduled to carry the Olympic torch during the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics torch relay when the flame passed through Shime, Fukuoka, on 11 May 2021. It was expected that Tanaka's family would push her in a wheelchair for most of her 100-metre leg, but she may have walked the final few steps before passing the torch to the next runner. However, due to the rise of COVID-19 cases in Japan, it was decided that it would not be safe for this to happen.

Around September 2021, Tanaka received the COVID-19 vaccine, making her the oldest validated person to get vaccinated against the disease.

Death

Kane2022

Tanaka (aged 119) in March 2022, the last known photo of her.

On 13 April 2022, just six days before her death, it was reported by Tanaka's family on Twitter (Now called X) that she had repeatedly been in and out of the hospital, but despite her health declining, she still enjoyed eating chocolate, as well as drinking Coca-Cola and Oronamin C.

Tanaka died from natural causes at a hospital in Fukuoka, Japan on 19 April 2022 at the age of 119 years, 107 days at 6:11 PM. Her death was not publicly announced until 25 April. Following her death, Lucile Randon of France became the world's oldest validated living person, and Fusa Tatsumi of Osaka Prefecture became the oldest validated living person in Japan.

Longevity Records

Tanaka became the world's oldest validated living person upon the death of Chiyo Miyako on 22 July 2018. Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born in 1903, following the death of Shimoe Akiyama on 29 January 2019. She also became the last surviving validated person in the world born in 1903, following the death of Maria Giuseppa Robucci of Italy on 18 June 2019.

Kane Tanaka1

Tanaka (aged 116) being recognized by Guinness World Records on 9 March 2019.

On 9 March 2019, 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, she became one of the ten oldest validated people ever recorded after surpassing Maria Capovilla's final age of 116 years, 347 days.

On 2 January 2020, Tanaka celebrated her 117th birthday, making her the fourth Japanese person to do so. Upon reaching the age of 117 years, 261 days on 19 September 2020, Tanaka broke Nabi Tajima's record to become the longest-lived validated Japanese person ever recorded. She also became the third-oldest validated human being of all-time, after Jeanne Calment and Sarah Knauss.

On 2 January 2021, Tanaka celebrated her 118th birthday; this was only the third time in history that a person has verifiably reached the age of 118, and the first such birthday since September 1998.

On 2 January 2022, Tanaka celebrated her 119th birthday, making her only the third validated person in history to reach this age, and the first such birthday since September 1999.

Following the death of Yoshi Otsunari on 26 January 2022, Tanaka became the last surviving Japanese person born before 1907.

Tanaka, along with Lucile Randon, outlived every supercentenarian (excluding longevity claimants) born in 1905, following the death of Antonia da Santa Cruz of Brazil on 23 January 2022.

On 10 April 2022, Tanaka became the second-oldest validated person in history, surpassing Sarah Knauss's final age of 119 years, 97 days.

Tanaka died on 19 April 2022, at the age of 119 years, 107 days, just nine days after surpassing Knauss's record. She remains the only Japanese person to reach the ages of 118 and 119, one of only four people to reach the age of 118 (the others being Jeanne Calment, Sarah Knauss, and Lucile Randon), and one of only three people to reach the age of 119 (the others being Jeanne Calment and Sarah Knauss).

Gallery

For more pictures, please see: Kane Tanaka/Gallery.

See Also

References


World's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (VE)

Betsy BakerJennie HowellMarie CarstensonNancy RyanChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Mary Kelly • Elizabeth Kensley • William Fullingim • Hannah Smith • John Mosley Turner • Johanna Booysen • Marie Bernatkova • Ada Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Elizabeth Watkins • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Sophia DeMuth • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Fannie Thomas • Augustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma WilsonAugusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Eva Morris • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Yukichi Chuganji • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Emiliano Mercado del Toro • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Jiroemon Kimura • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet BrownNabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas Morera


World's Oldest Living Woman Titleholders (VE)

Betsy BakerJennie HowellMarie CarstensonNancy RyanChristina Karnebeek-Backs • Marie Olsen • Mary Kelly • Elizabeth Kensley • Auguste Pahl • Hannah Smith • Yoshigiku Ito • Johanna Booysen • Marie Bernatkova • Ada Roe • Josefa Salas Mateo • Alice Stevenson • Elizabeth Watkins • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Sophia DeMuth • Marie-Virginie Duhem • Fannie Thomas • Augustine Tessier • Nellie Spencer • Emma Wilson • Augusta Holtz • Mary McKinney • Anna Eliza Williams • Florence Knapp • Jeanne Calment • Marie-Louise Meilleur • Sarah Knauss • Eva Morris • Marie Bremont • Maud Farris-Luse • Grace Clawson • Adelina Domingues • Mae Harrington • Mitoyo Kawate • Ramona Trinidad Iglesias-Jordan • Maria Capovilla • Elizabeth Bolden • Julie Winnefred Bertrand • Emma Tillman • Yone Minagawa • Edna Parker • Maria de Jesus • Gertrude Baines • Kama Chinen • Eugenie Blanchard • Maria Gomes Valentim • Besse Cooper • Dina Manfredini • Koto Okubo • Misao Okawa • Gertrude Weaver • Jeralean Talley • Susannah Mushatt Jones • Emma Morano • Violet Brown • Nabi Tajima • Chiyo MiyakoKane TanakaLucile RandonMaria Branyas Morera


Japan's Oldest Living Person Titleholders (V • TE)

Waka Shirahama • Tane Ikai • Sue UtagawaSuekiku Miyanaga • Asa Takii • Tase Matsunaga • Yasu Akino • Denzo Ishizaki • Kayo Fujii • Mie Ishiguro • Matsuno Oikawa • Yukichi Chuganji • Mitoyo Kawate • Ura Koyama • Yone Minagawa • Shitsu Nakano • Tsuneyo Toyonaga • Kaku Yamanaka • Kama Chinen • Chiyono Hasegawa • Jiroemon Kimura • Misao Okawa • Anonymous (Tokyo) • Nabi TajimaChiyo MiyakoKane TanakaFusa TatsumiTomiko Itooka


Japan's Oldest Living Woman Titleholders (VE)

Sue Watanabe • Unknown • Tome Yoshida • Haru Komai • Ishi HayashiYoshigiku Ito • Tome Horigome • Haruno Shimada • Mito Umeta • Niwa Kawamoto • Isa Nakayama • Man Ichikawa • Koume Kabira • Matsu Yoshikuni • Koharu Kodaira • Oto Michii • Toka Miyata • Momu Okuma • Ine Tsugawa • Seki Takehara • Waka Shirahama • Tane Ikai • Sue Utagawa • Suekiku Miyanaga • Asa Takii • Tase Matsunaga • Yasu Akino • Kayo Fujii • Mie Ishiguro • Matsuno Oikawa • Mitoyo Kawate • Ura Koyama • Yone Minagawa • Shitsu Nakano • Tsuneyo Toyonaga • Kaku Yamanaka • Kama Chinen • Chiyono Hasegawa • Koto Okubo • Misao Okawa • Anonymous (Tokyo) • Nabi TajimaChiyo MiyakoKane TanakaFusa TatsumiTomiko Itooka