Oldest Japanese marks 114th birthday in Fukuoka

FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Japan's oldest person, Yone Minagawa, turned 114 Thursday, celebrating her birthday at the Keijuen special nursing home in Fukuoka Prefecture where she now resides.

Yone Minagawa tries to blow out candles on her birthday cake Thursday. Minagawa, 114, is Japan's oldest person. KYODO PHOTO

Born in 1893 in Fukuchi, Fukuoka Prefecture, she was widowed early and raised her five children by selling flowers and vegetables in a coal mining town.

Minagawa now has a daughter, seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

While she now spends a lot of time in bed, Minagawa is in good spirits and asks about the well-being of nursing home staff and jokes with them. She also loves sweets.