Misao Okawa (Photo : Reuters)
The world's oldest person, Misao Okawa, passed away in Osaka, Japan on April Fools' Day. The 117-year-old Japanese woman died of natural causes, including heart failure.
Guinness World Records recognized Okawa in 2013 as the oldest person in the world. According to official records, she was also the oldest person ever to be born in Japan and Asia, and the last living Japanese person to have been born in the 1800s.
The daughter of a kimono manufacturer, Okawa was born on March 5, 1898 in the Tenma district of Osaka, and celebrated her 117th birthday nearly one month ago. Her nurses had been worrying about Okawa lately, due to her eating less food for 10 consecutive days.
During an interview with the AP on her most recent birthday, Okawa observed that her 117-year life had seemed "rather short," according to Daily Caller. She noted that she was "very happy" to have reached that age.
In the past, some of the oldest people in the world have cited daily coffee, bananas, and hikes among the secrets to their longevity. When asked about the issue, Okawa said that it was a "wonder" to her.
Still, an employee at Okawa's nursing home shared that the 117-year-old woman "loved" to eat, while her favorite foods were udon noodles and sushi, according to CNN. Okawa also ate much cake at her last birthday party.
Japan has the world's record for the most centenarians, over 58,000 according to the government's figures. Women comprise around 87 percent of the population at least 100 years old.
According to Guinness World Records, the all-time oldest person was Jeanne Louise Calment of France. She died in 1997 at age 122.
Okawa had wed her husband Yukio in 1919. Her spouse passed away in 1931.
Okawa is survived by three children, including her eldest son who is 92 years old. She also leaves behind four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
