Japanese woman named world's oldest person

Guinness World Records honours 116-year-old Kane Tanaka

Kane Tanaka celebrates as she is officially recognised as the world's oldest living person (AFP/Getty Images)

A 116-year-old woman from Japan has been officially recognised as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records.

Kane Tanaka was honoured by the organisation in a ceremony at the nursing home where she lives in Fukuoka, a city in southwest Japan.

Her family and the city's mayor also attended the celebration.

Ms Tanaka was born on 2 January 1903.

She married Hideo Tanaka in 1922, and they had five children.

The 116-year-old enjoys playing board games and studying maths.

The previous oldest living person was another Japanese woman, Chiyo Miyako, who died in July at the age of 117.

Japanese people tend to exhibit longevity and dominate the oldest-person list.

Although changing dietary habits mean obesity has been rising in the country, it is still relatively rare. Japan's culinary tradition focuses on fish, rice, vegetables and other food low in fat.

Age is also traditionally respected in the nation, meaning people stay active and feel useful into their 80s and beyond.

The oldest person ever was Jeanne Louise Calment, a French woman who lived to 122, according to Guinness World Records.

Additional reporting by agencies