Second oldest woman in the world dies after eating her favourite meal

The second oldest woman in the world has died at a nursing home in Japan after eating her favourite meal.

Fusa Tatsumi reached the incredible age of 116 before she passed away yesterday on 12 December.

She spent the last ten years of her life living at a care facility in Kashiwara, Osaka, and still enjoyed dolling herself up with makeup at the age of 110, as well as keeping staff entertained with her conversation.

The mother-of-two would chow down three meals a day and stuck to a healthy diet consisting of vegetables, fish and a small amount of meat.

Another of Fusa's secrets to a long life seems to be her dedication to staying hydrated, as her nursing home said she would drink one litre of water each day.

She even kept a plastic bottle and a cup within arms reach of her bed so that she could quench her thirst at any given time.

Born on 25 April 1907, Fusa became the oldest person in Japan, and the second oldest woman in the entire world - just behind Spaniard Maria Branyas, who was born a month earlier than her.

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She married local farmer Ryutaro - who grew peaches and grapes - at the age of 32.

The couple are said to have gone on to have three children, but Fusa's husband sadly died at the age of just 55.

Her eldest son, 76-year-old Kanji, told local media: "I think she did great to get to this age. I can only be grateful that she survived with the help of generous nursing care.

"She was the oldest mother in Japan and was able to accomplish something that no one could do."

Her family have suggested that Fusa's decades of hard work on the family farm contributed to her longevity.

The mum put a graft in for more than 20 years, lugging baskets of harvested fruit on her back up and down a steep slope at the orchard, which obviously kept her in good shape.

The world's second oldest woman had never been seriously ill or injured - and the only blemish on her record is when she fell and broke her femur while gardening when she was in her 70s.

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Fusa was very green fingered, with her loved ones recalling how she was passionate about growing chrysanthemums as well as flower arranging.

She passed away on 12 December at the Osaka nursing home after eating her favourite meal - bean-paste jelly.

An official in Kashiwara city told local media: "Tatsumi died aged 116 at a care facility in Osaka on Tuesday."

Osaka governor Hirofumi Yoshimura paid tribute to Fusa while fondly recalling how well she looked at a party to celebrate her lengthy lifespan.

He said: "I still remember how healthy Ms Fusa Tatsumi was. I sincerely pray for her soul."

Fusa became the oldest person in Japan last April following the death of Kane Tanaka, who was 119-years-old.

American supercentenarian Edith Ceccarelli is now the second oldest woman in the world at the age of 115.