Misao Okawa. [File Photo: Ming Pao]

Misao Okawa, a Japanese woman who had been recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person, died at the age of 117 on Wednesday morning at a nursing home in Osaka, local media reported.

According to the nursing home, Okawa died of heart insufficiency caused by old age. She started to lose her appetite 10 days ago, and stopped breathing at 6:58 a.m. local time with family members by her side.

Okawa celebrated her 117th birthday a month ago. When asked about her feelings of the 117 years' life by a government official at the celebration, she replied, "it seemed rather short".

Last year, when asked about her secrets of longevity a few days before her birthday, Okawa said sushi and sleep are the reasons.

Born on March 5, 1898, Okawa was recognized as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records in 2013, after the death of 116-year-old Jireomon Kimura, who was also Japanese.