ANDRIA HALL, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Japan has lost one of its most celebrated twins. Kin and Gin were born more than 100 years apart, and gained notoriety throughout their many years. CNN's Rosemary Church looks at the women's lives and their accomplishments.</s>ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Japan called them national treasures. Their names, Kin and Gin, mean gold and silver in Japanese, and seemed to show how precious they were to the nation. Their beaming smiles and sharp with confirm it. The twin sisters were born into a farming family in northern Japan in 1892. They said the secret to their longevity was a belief that life was simple, and regular walks. Fame found the sisters late in life. Local politicians visited them on Japan's Respect for the Age Day, when they were 99 years old. They soon became celebrities in a nation that reveres the elderly. The charismatic duo made talk show appearances and numerous commercials. Their newfound fame even brought them into the recording studio when they turned 100. They recorded a "granny rap," which soon became a favorite on the Japanese pop charts. On their last birthday together, the sisters attended a tree planting ceremony in the northern town of Suparo (ph). Kin said she was happiest when she was with her twin sister.</s>KIN (through translator): That's what I think at least. I don't know what this person has to say.</s>CHURCH: Kin died at her home at 107 and is survived by five children, 11 grandchildren, and five great grandchildren, but most of all, she leaves behind the sister who was always by her side. Rosemary Church, CNN.
One of Japan's Most Celebrated Twins Dies at 107