gazette issue 3 | Page 53

Oldest person alive Oldest person alive turns 116 On the 5th of March 2014. Misao Okawa celebrated her 116th birthday, Almost a year after the oldest person on earth, Jiroemon Kimura, passed away at the age of 116 and 54 days old on the 12th of June 2013. Misao's secret for long life is enough food and sleep. Misao sleeps at least eight hours of sleep a night. Her favourite food are sushi and mackerel on vinegar steamed rice. She eats it at least one every month. Misao lived in a retirement home for 18 years. She also thinks it is important to relax and take care of your body. Misao suffered a fall at the age 102 and broke her leg. She is also fit and healthy. Misao also lived through a lot of history like World War I and II, the invention of TV, computers, first mission to space, first person on the moon and the discovery of penicillin. Her best memories are when she got married in 1919 and gave birth to her 3 children. Two are still alive aged 92 and 94 and the others died. Scientists say that people that live longer are more likely to be Japanese people because of their healthcare system, knitting clubs and diets of fish, rice, fruits and vegetables. She had a cake but only had three candles. One for each century she lived through. She also said that too many candles can be dangerous.