Happy 116th Birthday to Misao Okawa, the Oldest Person in the World

From the Guardian:

In 1898, the year Okawa was born, the Spanish-American war was in its infancy and Queen Victoria was still on the British throne. Okawa married in 1919 but her husband died in 1931, more than eight decades ago. Their marriage produced three children, two of whom are still alive and in their 90s. Okawa has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Okawa has dealt with the media attention with incredulity. When notified that she was in line to become the world’s oldest woman last year, she reportedly said: “Have I really lived that long?”

The centenarian, one of about 24 Japanese alive who have passed the 110-year milestone, claims she has never been ill, and quickly recovered after breaking her leg in a fall at the age of 102. “She is in good shape, and is even still gaining weight,” the nursing home employee said.

Okawa says that the secret to long life is to “eat a good meal and relax.” Word.

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