Advertisement

World's oldest living person turns 117 with televised ceremony

Misao Okawa previously credited her longevity to getting enough sleep and eating plenty of sushi.

By Ben Hooper
Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter

TOKYO, March 4 (UPI) -- The world's oldest person, who turns 117 Thursday, was presented with a bouquet in a televised ceremony in Japan.

Misao Okawa, who was certified by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person in 2013, was born March 5, 1898, in Tenma, Japan, and celebrated her birthday a day early with a televised ceremony and was presented with a bouquet by a government official.

Advertisement

When asked about the secret to her long life, Okawa quipped, "I wonder about that too!"

The supercentenarian, who said her life has not felt particularly long, previously credited sleeping at least eight hours a night and eating plenty of sushi with contributing to her longevity.

Okawa, whose husband died in 1931, has three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Latest Headlines