田中カ子さん、国内歴代最高齢に　１１７歳２６１日迎え―福岡

　世界最高齢に認定されている福岡市の田中カ子さんが１９日、１１７歳２６１日を迎えた。厚生労働省などによると、確認できる範囲で、２０１８年に亡くなった鹿児島県喜界町の田島ナビさん（１１７歳２６０日）を抜き、国内の歴代最高齢を更新した。
　田中さんは１９０３（明治３６）年１月２日、福岡県和白村（現・福岡市東区）に生まれ、英ギネス・ワールド・レコーズ社が「存命中の世界最高齢」に認定している。炭酸飲料やチョコレートが好物といい、現在は福岡市内の老人ホームで暮らす。
　福岡県は１９日、田中さんの長寿を祝い、小川洋知事からの祝い状や記念品を施設職員を介して贈呈。田中さんは早速、記念品の久留米絣（がすり）のブランケットを膝にかけ、喜んでいたという。（2020/09/19-14:15）

Japan's Kane Tanaka, who is recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person, reached the age of 117 years and 261 days on Saturday to become the country's oldest person that has ever lived as far as records show.
   The woman from the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka surpassed the age of Nabi Tajima, who was a resident of Kikai in Kagoshima Prefecture, also in southwestern Japan, and died in 2018 when she was 117 years and 260 days old, according to the welfare ministry and others.
   Tanaka was born in the former village of Wajiro, now part of the city of Fukuoka, on Jan. 2, 1903. Being a big fan of soda and chocolates, she now lives in an elderly care home in the city.
   On Saturday, the prefecture of Fukuoka sent to Tanaka commemorative gifts and a congratulatory certificate from Governor Hiroshi Ogawa through the staff of her care home. She looked happy as she put over her knees a blanket made of Kurume Gasuri, a traditional cotton fabric from the southern part of the prefecture, that was sent to her as a gift, according to the staff.
   Soichiro Takashima, mayor of the city of Fukuoka, issued a statement expressing his respect for Tanaka who has lived through the five Japanese eras of Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei and Reiwa and has had a variety experiences. He also wished for her good health.