Born on January 4 1893, Yone Minagawa was crowned the world's oldest woman by the Guinness Book of World Records in January 2007 following the death of Emma Faust Tillman in the United States. Minagawa outlived all of her children except one daughter. She had seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren and outlived four Japanese emperors.

Japan boasts one of the world’s longest average life spans, a factor attributed to the healthy nature of the nation’s staple foods of fish and rice. The country also boasts one of the world’s oldest living men, the venerable 111-year old Tomoji Tanabe, and has a long history of centenarians. At 120 years 237 days, Shigechiyo Izumi was the longest living man ever while countryman Kamata Hongo lived to the rip old age of 116.

From Japan to America

The honour of being the planet’s oldest living female now falls on American supercentenarian Edna Parker, a resident of Shelbyville, Indiana. Edna, who is also aged 114, was born on the same day as silent movie superstar Harold Lloyd.

Although she now lives in a retirement community, she is said to be in good health and is still able to walk. Curiously, she’s not the only famous resident at the home. Fellow resident Sandy Allen stands 7 feet 7 inches tall and is recognised as the world’s tallest woman.