This is Kane Tanaka. She was born the same year the Wright brothers achieved powered flight. She was born in 1903. Her birthday was yesterday. She is now the oldest person alive at 117 years old.

This supercentenarian lives in the southern city of Fukuoka, Japan. Have you ever heard of “Blue Zones“? There are five of these identified around the world for the longevity of the residents.

• The Italian island of Sardinia
• Okinawa, Japan
• Loma Linda, California
• Costa Rica’s isolated Nicoya Peninsula
• Ikaria, an isolated Greek island

Journalist Dan Buettner was the first to use the label Blue Zones during more than five years of on-site investigation. The “secret” to the extraordinary longevity in these places ends up being pretty simple. It is community, activity, and diet.

What would keep you going if you reach centenarian status?