OSAKA —
A 114-year-old Japanese woman, the daughter of a kimono maker, was formally recognized Wednesday as the world’s oldest woman.
Misao Okawa said Wednesday that she was “very happy” to receive the recognition and a certificate from Guinness World Records.
After a meal of her favorite mackerel sushi, Okawa nodded off as she sat in her wheelchair, her 3-month-old great grandson, Hibiki Okawa, at her side. But she woke up to speak to a reporter.
Asked for her secret for longevity, she said it was to “watch out for one’s health.”
The recognition by Guinness World Records was a nice gift for Okawa, who will mark her 115th birthday next week. According to the Gerontology Research Institute, which verifies age information for Guinness, she was born March 5, 1898.
Japan has the most centenarians in the world, with more than 51,000, according to the government. More than 87 percent of them are women.
