World's oldest person celebrates 117th birthday

Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network

Show Caption Hide Caption Oldest living person turns 117 Misao Okawa of Japan, the world's oldest living person, is turning 117 years old. Mike Janela (@mikejanela) looks at her secrets for long life. Video provided by Buzz60

One hundred and seventeen years goes by in a flash, according to the world's oldest person.

Misao Okawa celebrated her 117th birthday a day early on Wednesday at a nursing home in western Japan, according to the Associated Press.

During the televised celebration, she told a government official that her life, "seemed rather short."

Okawa, the daughter of a kimono maker, was born on March 5, 1898, in Osaka and was recognized as the oldest person in the world by Guiness World Records in 2013.



When asked the secret to a long life, Okawa jokingly said, "I wonder about that too."

While the 117-year-old is still eating well, she is having trouble hearing and has slowed down in recent months, according to staff at the nursing home, the Associated Press reported.

Okawa married Yukio Okawa in 1919. They had two daughters and a son. Her husband died in 1931. She has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, according to the AP.

Meet Earth's 5 oldest people, all born in the 1800s Five people born in the 1800s are still with us - and they're all women. Three of these supercentenarians live in the United States.

Check out other world record holders.