TOKYO Toting sparkling pink shovels, the world's oldest living twins celebrated their 107th birthday with a tree-planting ceremony in northern Japan on Sunday. Kin Narita and Gin Kanie, considered national treasures, took a wagon ride after helping to plant a tree in a Sapporo Park. "I want to thank all of you for coming out here today," a beaming Gin said.

Kin and Gin, whose names mean silver and gold in Japanese, were born into a farming family near Nagoya in central Japan on August 1, 1892. They now live in separate homes in Nagoya. Kin, the first born, was released from hospital last week after suffering from a stomach ulcer, local media reported. The pair shot to fame at the age of 99 after local politicians visited them on "respect for the aged day".

The government designated them national treasures in 1991. Since then, they have appeared in commercials, game shows, news programs and even graced the pages of "People" magazine. They recorded a "Granny Rap" record that vaulted up the Japanese pop charts for their 100th birthday. It also took them 100 years to file their first income tax returns because of the unexpected income from their pop music venture, endorsement contracts and guest television appearances.

Kin has 11 children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren while Gin has five children, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. "We never thought we would live this long," Kin said on her 100th birthday. "We could survive because we were twins. We need each other more than anyone else in the world." (Reuter)