Living Life to the Fullest
Writer: Toya Chotichaicharin
Editor: Eleonora Burei
Graphic Designer: Auliya Naura
What happened?
The world's oldest person, Kane Tanaka, has sadly passed away at the age of 119. She was born on 2 January 1903, and to put into context how long ago that was, here's a timeline of events surrounding her birth.
17 July 1902 - Willis Carrier invents air conditioning.
2 January 1903 - Kane Tanaka was born.
10 December 1903 - Marie Curie becomes first woman to receive a Nobel Prize.
17 December 1903 - Wright brothers' 1st successful flight on their motor airplane.
She's been through the real highs and lows.
Simple facts about her
It has been told that Tanaka was actually born on 26 December, 1902, but her family didn't file the birth report until a week later because they weren't sure if she was going to survive, being born prematurely.
She was the 7th of 9 siblings, and by the age of 19, she got married to her cousin, Hideo Tanaka. Together, they had 2 sons and 2 daughters, and also adopted a 5th child.
Ms. Tanaka converted to Christianity shortly after WWII, influenced by the pastors stationed in Japan by the U.S.
The Tanakas made a living out of selling shiruko and udon noodles in their own store, up until Ms Tanaka was 63.
What's in a lifespan?
A human lifespan typically lasts anywhere from 65 to 80 years. It's no secret that women, on average, live longer than men do. Despite what the internet may say, there are 3 scientifically valid reasons why this may be.
1) A woman's heart rate increases during the menstrual cycle, which offers the same benefits as moderate exercise. This affects the way cells age and delays the risk of cardiovascular disease.
2) Women have 2 X chromosomes, which means that they have a backup of every gene they possess, whereas men have one X and one Y chromosome, which means that every genetic mutation is fully expressed.
3) Men are often taller than women, which means that they have more cells. More cells, more change of a mutation.
How did she do it?
Of course, the main question everybody's asking is: 'how did she do it?'. She lived to not 80, not 90, not 100, but 119! How did she defy all the odds and live to such a fulfilling life?
Although she proudly said that her favorite foods were 'chocolate and fizzy drinks', those were definitely not the reasons why she lived such a lengthy life.
On a more serious note, one of the things that allowed her to live so long was the fact that she was a big fan of waking up early; often beginning her day at 6 a.m. Additionally, Othello and mathematics were things that she took pride in and practiced daily.
"My large family, sleeping well, always being positive and hopeful, eating good food, and practicing mathematics to develop my brain helped me live so long."
-Kane Tanaka
What other habits allow you to live longer?
According to Johns Hopkins University and Healthline, you drastically increase your life expectancy if you:
1) Don't smoke. It's obvious enough. It damages your arteries and lungs along with increasing your risk of cancer.
2) Get up and move. You should aim to get in around 30 minutes of activity/exercise almost every day of the week.
3) Prioritize your happiness. It's good for you now, and will be good for you in the future. Over 35 different studies have concluded that happier people live up to 18% longer than their unhappy counterparts.
Sources:
Kane Tanaka: World's oldest person dies aged 119 in Japan - Sky News-
https://news.sky.com/story/kane-tanaka-worlds-oldest-person-dies-aged-119-in-japan-12598945
Why do women live longer than men? - BBC Future - https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20151001-why-women-live-longer-than-men#:~:text=A%20woman's%20heart%20rate%20increases,t%20have%20that%20back%2Dup.
4 Top Ways to Live Longer - Johns Hopkins University
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/4-top-ways-to-live-longer
Longevity Secrets From Kane Tanaka, the Second Oldest Person to Ever Live - Newsweek -
https://www.newsweek.com/kane-tanaka-world-oldest-person-longevity-secrets-1700575
13 Habits Linked to a Long Life (Backed by Science) - Healthline -
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-habits-linked-to-a-long-life#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9
