World's second oldest person dies in Japan at 115

2011-12-02 23:42:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The world's second oldest person, Chiyono Hasegawa, died of natural causes at a care facility in southwestern Japan on Friday, the governor confirmed. She was 115 years old.

Saga Prefecture governor Yasushi Furukawa said Hasegawa died in the city of Saga, located on Kyushu island in the country's southwest. "Chiyono Hasegawa was the pride of not only the citizens of Saga, but the pride of the Japanese people," the governor said. "I pray for her soul from the heart."

Hasegawa, who turned 115 on November 20, was the oldest living person in Japan and the second oldest living person in the world, following behind only Besse Cooper from the United States who is 115 years and 98 days old as of Friday.

Following Hasegawa's death, the oldest Japanese person currently alive is now Jiroemon Kimura, who is currently 114 years and 227 days old. Kimura, who lives in Kyoto, is currently also the world's oldest man and now the third oldest person in the world.

The oldest undisputed person ever from Japan was Tane Ikai who died in July 1984 at the age of 116 years and 175 days. The oldest undisputed person to have ever lived in the world was Jeanne Calment who died in France in 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-12-02

RIP. Personally I would not wish to live that long where all my freedoms to move and do for myself have deterorated and I am dependant on others.

Many years ago, my great grandmother said on her 99th birthday, "Nobody wants to live to be 100, until they are 99."

She lived quite a number of years after her 100th birthday and was quite independent. She was eventually put in an old-age facility, but she remained active and her mental faculties were intact until she died. Unfortunately, she lived in a cold climate and the winters were just too hard for her to cope living on her own.

RIP. I hope people took the time to know you and learn from you.

Many years ago, my great grandmother said on her 99th birthday, "Nobody wants to live to be 100, until they are 99."

Love it! Should any of us get to 99 I bet we would all agree.