The Oldest Man in the World
Tomoji Tanabe of Japan is the Current Longest Living Man on Earth
Japanese Supercentenarian is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest living man in the World, and has held the title for over a year.
Tomoji Tanabe was born in Japan in the year 1895, and for more than a year he has been the oldest living man in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group who study the world’s oldest people. He is thought to be the fifteenth oldest living Human being whose age can be verified.
Mr Tanabe was born on the southern island of Kyushi in September 1895, and is now 112 years old. He inherited the title of the World’s Oldest Man last year, following the death of 115 year old Puerto Rican, Emiliano Mercado del Toro, who was the oldest man, and indeed the oldest known person in the world at the time of his death. Mr Tanabe is the last known man alive to have been born in 1895, although there are five men still living who were born in 1896.
Extreme Age Claims
There are many claims to extreme ages, but researchers such as the Gerontology Research Group, who provide details to the Guinness Book of Records about the world’s oldest people, will only accept a claim if it can be validated beyond reasonable doubt through documentations and records. There are several men who claim to be older than Mr Tanabe, but he is the oldest man to possess the necessary proof of age.
Healthy Lifestyle for Long Life
Mr Tanabe is in good health, and lives with his son and daughter-in-law. He believes that his life-long abstinence from alcohol and cigarettes is a factor in reaching such an extraordinary age. His diet consists mainly of vegetables, and he remains active both physically and mentally even in his advanced old age. Japan now has one of the largest populations of people over the age of 100 years, and Mr Tanabe appears to be a great model of how healthy living may increase our longevity.
Oldest Man, but Not Japan’s Oldest Person
Mr Tanabe may be the oldest man in the world, and the fifteenth oldest Human being, but he is not the oldest person in his home country. Japanese woman Kaku Yamanaka who lives in the Aichi Prefecture was born in 1894, and in December celebrated her 113th birthday. She is the sixth oldest living Human being according to the Gerontology Research Group. Another Japanese woman, Chiyo Shiraishi is also 112 years of age, having been born just a few weeks before Mr Tanabe. They are among only sixteen living people who were verifiably born before 1896.
The oldest living person is American woman Edna Parker, who was born in April 1893 and is close to turning 115.
Living Forever
On the occasion of his 112th birthday, a reporter asked Mr Tanabe how long he wanted to live. He replied that he wanted to live forever. However long he is with us, there is no doubt that Mr Tanabe remains an inspiring model of dignified old age, and a reminder of the importance of focusing on care and quality of life for our most senior citizens.
Article on the Oldest Person Ever
Article on The UK's Oldest Person
References:
Daily Telegraph Article for 112th Birthday
