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Japanese supercentenarian Jiroemon Kimura turns 116 today
Kimura is the world’s verified oldest living human. He has become the first man to reach the age of 116, with previous record holder Christian Mortensen having died around 100 days before reaching the landmark birthday.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shenzo Abe has congratulated Kimura by video message. The supercentenarian was visited at his home in Kyotango by Guinness World Records’ editor-in-chief Craig Glenday in October last year. Glenday recognised Kimura as the only surviving man to have lived through three centuries.
Kimura now spends much of his time in bed, and continues reading his morning newspaper (with a magnifying glass) and watching sumo wrestling and Japanese politics on television. He eats three times a day, and believes ‘small portions’ of food played a major part in reaching his advanced age. His favourite dishes are red bean cake and rice.
Although Kimura is the current oldest person, records show eight women have lived longer than him, with only four having reached their 117th birthday. France’s Jeanne Calment was 122 when she passed away in 1997, having survived over three years longer than the second longest living woman Sarah Knauss.
Kimura became the oldest living human in December 2012 following the death of Besse Cooper. Although Chinese woman Luo Meizhen claims to be 127 years-old, she has offered no birth certificate to verify her age.