Oldest Person in the World Dies at 114
By estherlou
@estherlou (5015)
United States
August 14, 2007 8:34am CST
Born on January 4, 1893, Minagawa was named the world's oldest person by the Guinness Book of World Records in January following the death of Emma Faust Tillman, also 114, in the United States. She lived in Tokyo, Japan. She outlived 4 or her 5 children and had seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Just think of all of the world events she has lived through!
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/08/14/japan.oldest.ap/index.html
5 people like this
10 responses
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Just think, she knew people when she was a child who experienced the US Civil war and voted for Abraham Lincoln! Just as I knew WWII veterns, she knew Civil war veterns. That's a long time to live.
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
14 Aug 07
Of course, I did not mean the Japanese lady, but the American who preceded her.
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@jazgottt (1180)
• Poland
14 Aug 07
It is bautiful thing to live such a long time. Of cours if you're in quite good condition according to your age.
But there is something really sad when it comes to very long life - you see many, many friends and members of your family die before you die. So more good events in your life and from the other hand a lot of suffering too.
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@sherrir101 (3670)
• Malinta, Ohio
14 Aug 07
I don't think i would like to live so long. It is amazing for the fact that she did live through so many world events. She must have been extrememly healthy to have lived sucha long life.
@barrettcoffey (51)
• United States
15 Aug 07
That's amazing. With technology ever increasing I'm sure people will be outliving these records soon as well. That is a lot of history to witness. i know all the history I've seen in 1/6 of her life and I just can't imagine. As long as I can take care of things for myself and not be helpless I hope I live a long life. But isn't there something about how no person is supposed to live over 120?? can anyone back me up on maybe where I heard that, and do you think it could be possible?? I had a 95 year old come into my work the other day and just as lively as ever had she not told me i would have thought she was only maybe 70ish if that. So who knows by the time i am reaching my upper years its hard to say how old people will be living.
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
20 Aug 07
Years ago, when I was singing in the church choir and singing solos, I sang at the wedding anniversary celebration for a couple celebrating their 75th anniversary! I couldn't believe that at the time! We'd have to be 70 to make it to our 50th!
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Aug 07
She must seen quite a bit in her life. I wonder what her secret was, because most of us are lucky to reach to our nineties in fairly good health. It must be wonderful to see the changes made to Japan since she was a girl, and how lucky she was to witness all that and remain untouched.
1 person likes this
@Grandmaof2 (7579)
• Canada
14 Aug 07
You're right this lady would have seen world events that nearly all of us will not see. Guess as long as you're some what healthy and alert it would be a great thing to be able to live that long. I'd like to know how she ate, because what we eat plays a big part in our well being I think. The other thing that came to mind when I read this is that she did did very well having had 5 children to end up with as many grandchildren as she did is remarkable. I personally don't know of anyone having any Great-Great Grandchildren.
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@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
14 Aug 07
What a wonderful lady. The History that she will be taking with her must be tremedous. I sure hope someone took notes. I can only hope I will live that long, but do I want to, I don't know. Thank you for this article.
1 person likes this
