The world’s officially recognized oldest person, Misao Ohkawa was feted her 117th birthday one day early in the western Japanese city of Osaka on Wednesday (March 4).
Ohkawa was officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest person alive two years ago when Jiroemon Kimura – also of Japan – died in June 2013 at age 116 years, 54 days.
On Wednesday, she appeared before local media with her 92-year old son and 2-year old great-grandson. Japanese media did not explain why she was celebrating her birthday a day early.
The mayor of the city ward where her senior citizens home was located wished her a happy birthday with flowers.
Asked about the secrets of her longevity, she said she had no clue.
“No idea,” she said. In previous years, she had replied sleep and eats well.
Born to a clothing merchant in 1898, Ohkawa married in 1919 and had three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Japanese media report that she’s never had major illnesses in her life, and only travels in a wheelchair to prevent her from falling over.
Japan has more than 58,000 centenarians. That was 4,400 more than the previous year, according to government data released in September 2014.