Misao Okawa, the world’s oldest person, turns 117 on March 5, celebrating the milestone a day early.
During her televised birthday celebration, Okawa, the daughter of a kimono maker, said that living to 117 “seemed rather short” and didn’t offer any secrets to her longevity, saying,
“I wonder about that, too,” The Associated Press reported.
She previously has attributed her long life to eating sushi and getting at least eight hours of sleep each night,
according to Guinness World Records.
“She insists that her favorite meal is sushi, particularly mackerel on vinegar-steamed rice, and she has it at least once every month,” Tomohito Okada, the head of the Kurenai retirement home where Okawa lives said, according to Guinness World Records.
The supercentenarian is in good health, despite having slowed down in recent months and having trouble hearing, nursing home staff said.
Born in 1898, Okawa's life spans three centuries. She married in 1919; her husband died in 1931. She has three children, four grandchildren, and six great-gradchildren.
Okawa is one of five living people born in the 1800s and among more than
58,000 centenarians in Japan, Yahoo Health reported.
Twitter users commented about the milestone.
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