Nabi Tajima, the world’s oldest person, has died at the age of 117 and the last known person born in the 19th century, in a hospital late Saturday evening in the town of Kikai in southern Japan, as confirmed by a town official, after having been hospitalized since January.
What happened?
Tajima was born on August 4, 1900, making her the world’s oldest person at the time of her death. Having survived multiple generations, she reportedly had over 160 descendants, which even extended to great-great-great-grandchildren. She lived in the town of Kikai in Kagoshima prefecture on Kyushu, the most southern of Japan’s four main islands.
According to the Associated Press, she had actually become the world’s oldest person seven months ago following the death of Violet Brown in Jamaica back in September, who coincidentally was also the age of 117. At the time, Tajima became a local celebrity because of the news, as video of her was shown on Japanese television, with her even moving her hands along to the music.
Tajima’s age and nationality actually line her up with other living supercentenarians. Another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, is now believed to be the world’s oldest person, as confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which is based in the United States; coincidentally enough, Miyako is also expected to turn 117 in little more than a week.
Interestingly enough, the world’s oldest man, Masazo Nonaka, who had been certified as being 112 years of age by the Guinness World Records, is also from Japan, living in a northern part of the country.
What is Nabi Tajima’s official cause of death?
According to the Associated Press, Nabi Tajima had died of old age. That said, it is unknown if an official autopsy has been performed or if this had been confirmed by officials. As noted, she had been 117 years of age at the time of her death.
As this story is developing, more information will be updated as made available.
