Jiroemon Kimura, the world’s oldest living man, celebrated his 115th birthday on Thursday and shared his secret to a long life.
“I’m delighted beyond words,” Kimura told The Telegraph.
Kimura, who lives in Kyoto, Japan, isn’t just the world’s oldest living man, but the third oldest man ever in history and one of 70 verified supercentenarians — someone 110-years-old or older — alive today. However, he is not the oldest living person; Besse Cooper of Georgia is one year older than Kimura, born on August 26, 1896.
Kimura has seven child, five of which are still alive, 14 grandchildren. 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He worked at a post office for 38 years before becoming a farmer. He retired when he was 90-years-old and currently lives with the 82-year-old widow of his eldest son.
In honor of his birthday, Kimura divulged some of his secrets to a long life, which he says is attributed to eating small portions with meals three times a day of red bean cake and rice. For his last birthday, he dined on grilled fish, steamed rice and red beans, a Japanese tradition on special occasions.
“I don’t know exactly…maybe it’s all thanks to the sun above me,” a modest Kimura told The Telegraph. “I am always looking up towards the sky, that is how I am.”
“Jiroemon Kimura: World’s Oldest Man Turns 115, His Diet Secret To A Long Life”. IB Times. 20 April 2012. Web.
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