Japan's oldest woman celebrates birthday

Japan's oldest woman, Yone Minagawa, celebrated her birthday on January 5 of this new year. She turned 114 on Saturday in the nursing homw where she currently resides. Born in 1893, Minagawa became the oldest woman when in September the reigning oldest woman, Kamato Hongo, who was 116 at the time of her death. Minagawa is still active and healthy, although she is in a wheelchair.
In August of 2005, America held the top three spots for oldest living people. On this list were Elizabeth Bolden, 115 years old, Bettie Wilson, 114 years old and Susie Gibson, 114 years old. Bolden died on December 11 of 2006; Wilson and Gibson both died in February of the smae year, less than seventy two hours apart. Bolden and Wilson were of African-American descent, Gibson of a white English background. They still hold their place among the longest living people of the world, although there are many others who are heading towards the top spots.