Japanese man Jiroemon Kimura becomes oldest ever living male in history, age 115

[ChickenGuy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiroemon_Kimura

He just made the record a few days ago. Not only that, today (January 2) he joins the 'top 10' authenticated oldest human beings (nine women have lived longer than him)

The Japanese people seem to live the longest - they have the most centenarians in the world. I think it's a combination of their genetics and their diet.

Not sure he'll see 2014 - I've noticed the 'oldest current living person in the world' title usually has a very high turnover rate.

And he has a VERY long way to go to beat the oldest ever human being, the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment (1875-1997) who lived to the age of 122.

I wish him a long longer life!

Jiroemon Kimura (April 19, 1897 - ????????)

[xbuzzerx]

In before someone implies it's fake!

[Kulindahr]

I would love to live to a hundred if I could stay as fit as I was at thirty.

[Ram]

They should calculate that in gay years and he will be older than the universe.

[Harke the Boeotarch]

God bless him! I thought back few decades ago that the most elderly were somewhere in the mountains in Eastern Europe somewhere, or maybe Russia. I'll have to look it up. Remember reading an article in the 80's in The National Geographic about it.

I think it turned out they lied about their age to escape the draft.

[xbuzzerx]

I would love to live to a hundred if I could stay as fit as I was at thirty.

That's my issue already and I'm not even that old. 100 years sounded fantastic at 24. Now that I'm starting to have to be careful how I go to sleep to not have back issues and dealing with some "grown up" health stuff it doesn't sound so hot.

[Scealle]

That's cool. I think their healthy eating culture contributes to this a bit.

[Axxess]

I really had my money on Jack LaLanne taking the title.

[BreakTheIce]

For his age, he looks great.

[LeicsDom]

I have to say that he doesn't look that old

They do say that all that fish the Japanese eat is the secret of their longevity

[cgymike]

I bet he never eats meat except fish. I think that's important to limit meat and also no smoking or alcohol.

[birddog7]

Who would want to live that long???

[palbert]

He has overlooked the practice of ubasute, whereby one 70 years old goes into the wilderness to die. See, The Ballad of Narayama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bal...ma_(1983_film)

[xbuzzerx]

He has overlooked the practice of ubasute, whereby one 70 years old goes into the wilderness to die. See, The Ballad of Narayama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bal...ma_(1983_film)

Don't forget http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sokushinbutsu

[palbert]

I have to say that he doesn't look that old

They do say that all that fish the Japanese eat is the secret of their longevity

Yeah, radioactive fish is a life-giver. He may never die. Saves on power bills too I imagine. Remember Godzilla?

[Kulindahr]

Who would want to live that long???

Everyone -- if they could keep the fitness they had at 25.

[Kulindahr]

He has overlooked the practice of ubasute, whereby one 70 years old goes into the wilderness to die. See, The Ballad of Narayama.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bal...ma_(1983_film)

Does Japan still have wilderness?

[refujiunderground]

in the end, he has the last laugh. dude was born in 1897. even if he died tomorrow, he's only a handful of people that has outlived everybody.

[youfiad]

I'm not sure that I agree with you on the not seeing 2014 part -- he looks fairly happy and healthy, all things considered.

[Telstra]

.
but which character did the bible said he was 900+ years old ?

[youfiad]

.
but which character did the bible said he was 900+ years old ?

Moses? I'm 99% sure that's Moses..

[xbuzzerx]

Does Japan still have wilderness?

Japan is two-thirds to three-fourths mountainous and virtually all of the population centers are in the sparse flatlands and plains. You can pretty much look at a graph of where people live in Japan and overlay it with where rice could be grown 400 years ago and it's pretty similar. And it's a minority of the landmass.

I'm not sure that I agree with you on the not seeing 2014 part -- he looks fairly happy and healthy, all things considered.

Yeah there are people 40 years younger who can't even be propped upright... he seems to be in great health.

[birddog7]

Everyone -- if they could keep the fitness they had at 25.

Not sure I'd bet any big money on that...

[loveguys72]

That's my issue already and I'm not even that old. 100 years sounded fantastic at 24. Now that I'm starting to have to be careful how I go to sleep to not have back issues and dealing with some "grown up" health stuff it doesn't sound so hot.

This. I'm happy for the guy and all, but getting to be that old is just something that happens. I really don't think there's anything you can do to force it. Judging from the average of my closest relatives, my personal race is about half run. And I'm ok with that.

[palbert]

Japan is two-thirds to three-fourths mountainous and virtually all of the population centers are in the sparse flatlands and plains. You can pretty much look at a graph of where people live in Japan and overlay it with where rice could be grown 400 years ago and it's pretty similar. And it's a minority of the landmass. ....

Didn't the wilderness just increase with the tsunami and radioactive disaster?

[chrisrobin]

I bet he never eats meat except fish. I think that's important to limit meat and also no smoking or alcohol.

Japanese diet seems to be complete: rice, fish, fruit and vegetables - a little beef, a little alcohol. A cardiologist's dream. More importantly, seniors are treated quite well. Three generations under one roof is not uncommon. Children are taught to respect their elders. Older folks are regarded as "walking encyclopedias." In other words, young people can learn from their grandparents. This produces a sense of self-worth and positive relationships in seniors that may be more important than diet.

[Scealle]

Japanese diet seems to be complete: rice, fish, fruit and vegetables - a little beef, a little alcohol. A cardiologist's dream. More importantly, seniors are treated quite well. Three generations under one roof is not uncommon. Children are taught to respect their elders. Older folks are regarded as "walking encyclopedias." In other words, young people can learn from their grandparents. This produces a sense of self-worth and positive relationships in seniors that may be more important than diet.

This +1 I really like how they are really polite even to strangers and they treat their elders well.

[diamondstar]

Color me jealous. Do the damn thing Kimura San

[evanrick]

i dont understand how japan can have people live so long and have a negative birth rate.

[xbuzzerx]

i dont understand how japan can have people live so long and have a negative birth rate.

Because in Japan the jobplace is incredibly competitive, and it's a huge setback for a woman to leave her career to have kids and then try to get back into it afterwards. It's very difficult for a woman past a certain age with kids to get back into a career profession in Japan and there is a bias within the business culture that she won't put the job first after she's a mother. That plus the generally high cost of living has people putting off having kids later and later, or possibly never having them.

Bear in mind Japan is a country with nearly half the population of the United States living in a space the size of California.

[PreTTy PeTe]

old people are so sweet.