Japanese woman, 91, becomes oldest newspaper delivery person thanks to trusty cart

It's 4 a.m. in the quiet region of Fukushima, Japan, an entrance lights up. Appearing in the doorway is Yoshie Watanabe - a small but sure-footed woman of 91 - who is about to do what she has been doing for over 30 years: deliver a newspaper.

Now officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest newspaper delivery person (female), Yoshie was born on 6 April 1934 to a family of nine. After graduating from junior high school, she helped out in a medical clinic that her relatives run.

Marrying at the age of 30, Yoshie and her husband moved to Ryozen, Fukushima, where she still resides to this day and where, she says, the start of her newspaper delivery career was coincidental.

"[The] newspaper office nearby asked me whether I could deliver. I had no jobs at the time, so I took it," she said.

Yoshie's delivery route is about 1.5 km (0.9 mi), and takes around 1.5 hours to complete.

Towards the end of winter, when we made a visit to hand her an official Guinness Worlds Records certificate, the weather was still cold and windy. When asked if she felt the chills, she explained how she always puts on enough layers to stay warm.

Her 'buddy' during her delivery route is a handcart which allows her to carry all her newspapers. "I use it in place of a walking stick," she says.

During a snowfall when she cannot use the handcart, Yoshie carries the newspapers on her back. But because she cannot carry all of them with her in one go, she has to do two rounds to complete her deliveries.

Read about more of the world's oldest people in our Human Body section.

Starting a newspaper delivery job soon after moving to a new place had its positives - she got to know the neighbourhood well, talking to people on the streets.

Yoshie says she was always good at getting up in the morning, so taking up this job was not an issue for her.

While it is impressive to see a person her age taking on this laborious task for over 30 years, she downplays it, saying: "It's just what I do everyday; I take it as a daily walk."

Even after receiving her official certificate, she - though surprised with the accolade - remains modest about her achievement.

"Nothing will change. It's just what I will continue to do everyday," she promised.