TOKYO – The world’s oldest person, Japanese woman Misao Okawa, has died of natural causes aged 117, reported national broadcaster NHK.

Okawa died early Wednesday at the retirement home where she lived in Osaka, according to facility doctors cited by NHK.

Okawa was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the oldest living woman in February 2013.

In August the same year, she also assumed the title of the oldest person in the world.

She had celebrated her 117th birthday nearly a month ago with visits from family members, neighbors and local authorities in a ceremony that attracted great media attention.

Okawa was born on March 5, 1898 in Osaka and had three children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The secrets to her longevity were living stress-free, sleeping at least eight hours daily and eating well, she told Japanese media on various occasions.

Okawa was able to walk until she was 110, but spent the last few years of her life moving around in a wheelchair in the retirement home where she lived.

The world’s oldest living man is Sakari Momoi, also Japanese, who turned 112 on Feb. 5.