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A 116-year-old US woman, Gertrude Weaver of Arkansas, is now the world’s oldest person, according to Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, which keeps records of supercentenarians. She was born on July 4 1898.
Ms Okawa lost her appetite about 10 days ago. Until then, she had been eating well, enjoying her daily cup of coffee and her favourite dishes, including ramen, Mr Okada said.
The daughter of a kimono maker, she said at her recent birthday celebration that her life seemed rather short. Asked for the secret of her longevity, she responded nonchalantly: ‘I wonder about that too.’
She married her husband Yukio in 1919 and they had two daughters and a son. She is survived by four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1931.
Japan’s oldest person is now a 115-year-old Tokyo woman, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The name of the woman, who was born on March 15 1900, was not released at the request of her family, the ministry said.
Japan has the most centenarians in the world, with more than 58,000, according to the government. About 87% of them are women.
Metro