TOKYO: Kane Tanaka has extended her record as the world's oldest person by celebrating her 117th birthday at a nursing home in Fukuoka in southern Japan.
Tanaka marked her birthday with a party on Sunday (Jan 5) along with staff and friends at the nursing home, television footage from local broadcaster TVQ Kyushu Broadcasting Co showed.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Tanaka, whose birthday was on Jan 2, took a bite from a slice of her big birthday cake. "Tasty," she said with a smile. "I want some more."
Tanaka was last year confirmed as the oldest living person, aged 116 years 66 days old as of Mar 9, according to Guinness World Records.
Tanaka's record age is symbolic of Japan's fast-ageing population, which coupled with its falling birthrate is raising concerns about labour shortages and prospects for future economic growth.
Advertisement
Advertisement
The number of babies born in Japan fell an estimated 5.9 per cent last year to
channel news asia
[contfnewc]
[contfnewc]