Man’s 116th birthday: Jiroemon Kimura, the world’s oldest man, celebrated his 116th birthday on Friday, it was reported.
Kimura was born on April 19, 1897 in Japan and is said to be the last known man who has lived in three different centuries, according to the BBC. Guinness World Records has said he is the world’s oldest living person and the world’s oldest man.
He spent most of his life working as a postman and later, he farmed until he was 90.
Kimura received a visit from local Kyotango Mayor Yasushi Nakayama and an official with Guinness, who gave him a certificate saying he is the world’s oldest man, reported the Asahi Shimbun newspaper.
For breakfast, he ate rice gruel mixed with azuki beans to celebrate his birthday.
“It is all thanks to the grace of God,” Kimura said, according to ABC News. “I have nothing but gratitude for the life I’ve been given.”
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent him a message: “I understand you like to watch Diet proceedings on television, so I feel I have to stand up straighter when I think that you may be watching,” according to the publication.
In previous interviews, Kimura said that his secret to living so long is eating until his stomach is only around 80 percent full. He said he drank alcohol until he was 100.
“His words are still clear, even for someone of his age,” said the 56-year-old woman who cares for him.
Reuters reported that Japan has more than 50,000 people who are over the age of 100, according to government data.
Japan also has the world’s oldest living woman, Misao Okawa, who is 115.
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