The Oldest Man In The World Will Carry The Torch Of The Tokyo Olympics

JAKARTA - If there is no obstacle, the oldest living human in the world, Kane Tanaka will become one of the torchbearers for the Tokyo Olympics at the age of 118 in May in Shime, Fukuoka Prefecture.

The plan of the route along the 100 meters that will be passed, Tanaka will be pushed by her family in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, when passing the torch to the next runner, she planned to walk on her own feet.

In an exclusive CNN interview with Tanaka and her family some time ago, it was discovered that the family bought Tanaka a new pair of sneakers on her birthday last January for the Olympics.

"It's great that she's reached that age and she can still maintain an active lifestyle, not seeing age as a barrier", said her grandson Eiji Tanaka, who is in his 60s.

Previous record holders for the oldest Olympic torch bearer include Brazil's Aida Gemanque, who lit the torch at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics at the age of 106. As well as table tennis player Alexander Kaptarenko, who ran with a torch at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics at the age of 101.

The woman who had cancer twice and passed two global pandemics was born in 1903. She has four children, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren from her marriage to a rice shop owner. She worked in the family shop until she was 103 years old.

She lived through two world wars and the 1918 Spanish flu, although her grandson Eiji said, "I don't remember her talking much about the past. She's very forward-thinking - she really enjoys living in the present".

She is almost as old as the modern Olympics, which began in 1896. When the last Olympics were held in Tokyo in 1964, Tanaka was 61 years old. When calculating the editions of the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics, this year will be the 49th Olympics of her life.

Tanaka now lives in a nursing home, where she usually gets up at 6 a.m. and enjoys playing the strategic board game, Othello. Tanaka's family, who were unable to visit her for 18 months during the COVID-19 pandemic, said that curiosity and counting were her secrets in keeping a sharp mind and healthy body.

Tanaka is by no means the only centenarian (people over 100 years old) in Japan. For the first time last year, Japan recorded more than 80.000 centenarians, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare.

In 2019, the Guinness Book of World Records certified Tanaka as the oldest living person in the world. She also has the desire to pass the record for the oldest person in the world held by a French woman who died at the age of 122.

"(Kane) said she wanted to break that record", said Eiji Tanaka, her grandson.

Tanaka's family said she hasn't done any training for the torch relay but is excited to be part of the Olympics.

"She has always loved festivals", said Eiji Tanaka.

But she warned her participation in May - sponsored by a Japanese life insurance company - would depend on health and weather conditions.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics Torch Relay is slated to start in Fukushima Prefecture on March 25, with strict health protocols in place.

The torch will first pass through areas affected by the devastating 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, marking the disaster's 10th anniversary, before traveling to every corner of Japan.

Torchbearers will be asked to complete a daily health checklist two weeks before the relay, limiting themselves from activities that may involve a risk of infection, such as eating out or going to crowded places.

Tanaka's great-granddaughter, Junko Tanaka, created a Twitter account in January 2020 to celebrate the supercentenarian's life.

She Tweeted a photo of her great-grandmother enjoying treats like cake and soda pop and shared her achievements and exchanges she had with relatives.

"I started a Twitter post about her because it's amazing that at 118 years old she is drinking Coca-Cola and playing as Othello", said Junko Tanaka.

"I may be biased because I am related to her, but I think it's great. I want to share it with the world and for people to feel inspired and feel the joy", Tanaka concluded.