This weekend, Tanaka was 117 years and 261 days old, which means that according to Japanese statistics, she is now the person who has lived the longest in the country through the ages.
The former record holder Nabi Tajima, died in April 2018, when she was 117 years and 260 days.
Granddaughter Eiji Tanaka tells the news agency Kyodo that Kane Tanaka enjoys life, even though in these pandemic times it is sad not to be able to meet the family as usual.
- As a family, we are happy and proud of this record, says 60-year-old Eiji Tanaka.
On previous birthdays, Kane Tanaka has wished for, and received, chocolate as a gift.
According to the British The Guardian, she celebrated this weekend's record with a bottle of Coca-Cola, which is described as her favorite drink.
The record comes at the right time, just in time for the holiday keiro no hi (roughly "respect for the elderly" day) on Monday.
Japan has over 80,000 citizens who are 100 years or older.