Now Japanese isle has world's oldest man and woman

A Japanese island now boasts it is the home of both the world’s oldest man and woman.

Great, great grandmother Kamato Hongo entered the record books this week as the world’s oldest living person, according to Guinness World Records.

The 114-year-old inherited the title following the death of Maud Farris-Luse, of Michigan, who was 115.

She was born on September 16 1887, was raised on a farm and counts drinking Japanese rice wine among her favourite things - along with black salt, pork, sashimi, and green tea. She also likes traditional Japanese dancing.

‘‘The key is not storing up stress,’’ said her 45-year-old grandson Tsuyoshi Kurauchi. ‘‘If you do that, you can eat or drink anything.’’

Hongo mothered seven children, more than 20 grandchildren, and even outlived her eldest daughter, who died two years ago while in her 90s.

She lives in a nursing home in Kagoshima, 615 miles southwest of Tokyo on the island of Kyushu, which has reputation for record-breaking longevity among its residents.

Hongo was born in the nearby town of Isen, home to the late Shigechiyo Izumi, who also held the Guinness record as the world’s oldest person. He died in 1986, aged 120.

Recently, another Kyushu resident was hailed as the world’s oldest man.

Retired silkworm farmer Yukichi Chuganji graduated into the spot on January 4 with the death of his Italian predecessor. Chuganji will be 113 on Saturday.

There are an estimated 15,000 Japanese over the age of 100, and women make up about 80% of the total.