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World's oldest person Jiroemon Kimura 115, says rise with the sun, read a paper World's oldest person Jiroemon Kimura 115, says rise with the sun, read a paper
(about 1 month later)
The year Jiroemon Kimura was born Bram Stoker's Dracula was published, Oscar Wilde was released from Reading Gaol, and the slogan "All the news that's fit to print" appeared on the front page of  the New York Times.The year Jiroemon Kimura was born Bram Stoker's Dracula was published, Oscar Wilde was released from Reading Gaol, and the slogan "All the news that's fit to print" appeared on the front page of  the New York Times.
Since his birth on 19 April 1897, Kimura has lived through the reign of four Japanese emperors and the administrations of 61 prime ministers. He has seen his country dabble disastrously with militarism and, in his 50s, witnessed its rise from the ashes of war to become one of the world's most powerful economies.Since his birth on 19 April 1897, Kimura has lived through the reign of four Japanese emperors and the administrations of 61 prime ministers. He has seen his country dabble disastrously with militarism and, in his 50s, witnessed its rise from the ashes of war to become one of the world's most powerful economies.
Last December, the native of Kyoto prefecture, west Japan, secured his own place in history when, at the age of 115 and 242 days he became the world's oldest person, following the death of Dina Manfredini, an Italian-American who lived in Iowa.Last December, the native of Kyoto prefecture, west Japan, secured his own place in history when, at the age of 115 and 242 days he became the world's oldest person, following the death of Dina Manfredini, an Italian-American who lived in Iowa.
On 27 December, Kimura became the oldest man ever documented. He is one of only 12 people alive today who were born in the 1890s, and the only man living to have been born in that decade.On 27 December, Kimura became the oldest man ever documented. He is one of only 12 people alive today who were born in the 1890s, and the only man living to have been born in that decade.
Yet should he ever wish to reminisce with other people born in the same century, he will not have to search far. A few days after Guinness World Records recognised her as the world's oldest woman, Misao Okawa this week celebrated her 115th birthday, surrounded by relatives in her home town of Osaka, a short distance from Kyoto.Yet should he ever wish to reminisce with other people born in the same century, he will not have to search far. A few days after Guinness World Records recognised her as the world's oldest woman, Misao Okawa this week celebrated her 115th birthday, surrounded by relatives in her home town of Osaka, a short distance from Kyoto.
Okawa, born in 1898 during the Spanish-American war, told a gathering at the nursing home where she lives that, all things considered, life was "pretty good".Okawa, born in 1898 during the Spanish-American war, told a gathering at the nursing home where she lives that, all things considered, life was "pretty good".
Those expecting Okawa to divulge the secret to longevity will have been disappointed. Although fond of pickled mackerel sushi, she eats what she "feels like eating" and has never suffered from a major illness.Those expecting Okawa to divulge the secret to longevity will have been disappointed. Although fond of pickled mackerel sushi, she eats what she "feels like eating" and has never suffered from a major illness.
Her marriage, which began almost a century ago, led to three children, two of whom are still alive and in their 90s, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. When notified that she was in line for the oldest woman accolade, she reportedly said: "Have I  really lived that long?"Her marriage, which began almost a century ago, led to three children, two of whom are still alive and in their 90s, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. When notified that she was in line for the oldest woman accolade, she reportedly said: "Have I  really lived that long?"
West Japan is also home to the country's "youngest" supercentenarian, Mitsue Nagasaki, who was born in Kumamoto, in September 1899, barely a month before the outbreak of the second Boer war.West Japan is also home to the country's "youngest" supercentenarian, Mitsue Nagasaki, who was born in Kumamoto, in September 1899, barely a month before the outbreak of the second Boer war.
When Kimura became the world's oldest man for the second time in a row in October last year, he conceded that he spent most of the time in bed.When Kimura became the world's oldest man for the second time in a row in October last year, he conceded that he spent most of the time in bed.
Longevity runs in his family. Four of his siblings lived past 90, and his youngest brother lived to 100. Kimura's living relatives include five children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.Longevity runs in his family. Four of his siblings lived past 90, and his youngest brother lived to 100. Kimura's living relatives include five children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
He was born into a farming family in a fishing village, the third of six children. After leaving school at the age of 14 he worked for the post office, retiring more than half a century ago at the age of 65. He then went on to work as a farmer until he was 90.He was born into a farming family in a fishing village, the third of six children. After leaving school at the age of 14 he worked for the post office, retiring more than half a century ago at the age of 65. He then went on to work as a farmer until he was 90.
Kimura attributes his robust health to watching his food portion sizes, waking early in the day, reading the newspapers – with the help of a magnifying class – and watching parliamentary debates on television. He shares a home with his grandson's widow, Eiko Kimura, who serves him his regular breakfast of rice porridge and miso soup.Kimura attributes his robust health to watching his food portion sizes, waking early in the day, reading the newspapers – with the help of a magnifying class – and watching parliamentary debates on television. He shares a home with his grandson's widow, Eiko Kimura, who serves him his regular breakfast of rice porridge and miso soup.
Aside from the three Japanese supercentenarians, the indomitable dozen born in the 19th century and still living includes five Americans, two Italians and a British woman.Aside from the three Japanese supercentenarians, the indomitable dozen born in the 19th century and still living includes five Americans, two Italians and a British woman.
The Briton is Grace Jones, who is 113, one of only three in the country who can say they were living during the reign of Queen Victoria. She attributes her long life to "good English food, never anything frozen".The Briton is Grace Jones, who is 113, one of only three in the country who can say they were living during the reign of Queen Victoria. She attributes her long life to "good English food, never anything frozen".
The oldest person in the US, Elsie Thompson, maintains perhaps a counter-intuitive approach to surviving well beyond 100. While the 113-year-old Florida resident shuns red meat, she  likes her coffee and biscuits. Her secret? "I love people," she told the Tampa Bay Times in April 2010, when she was a mere 111.The oldest person in the US, Elsie Thompson, maintains perhaps a counter-intuitive approach to surviving well beyond 100. While the 113-year-old Florida resident shuns red meat, she  likes her coffee and biscuits. Her secret? "I love people," she told the Tampa Bay Times in April 2010, when she was a mere 111.
Japanese women recently relinquished their place at the top of the global longevity table to their counterparts from Hong Kong, partly due to the large number of elderly people who died due to the tsunami of March 2011.Japanese women recently relinquished their place at the top of the global longevity table to their counterparts from Hong Kong, partly due to the large number of elderly people who died due to the tsunami of March 2011.
The average lifespan of Japanese women fell by 0.4 years to 85.9 in 2011, lagging behind that for women in Hong Kong, who averaged 86.7 years.The average lifespan of Japanese women fell by 0.4 years to 85.9 in 2011, lagging behind that for women in Hong Kong, who averaged 86.7 years.
Some experts attribute Japan's impressive human life expectancy to traditional diets low in fat (but, due to the regular consumption of soy sauce and miso soup, quite high in salt).Some experts attribute Japan's impressive human life expectancy to traditional diets low in fat (but, due to the regular consumption of soy sauce and miso soup, quite high in salt).
But studies and testimony from centenarians suggest that lasting friendships, community ties, as well as generous pensions and decent healthcare, can be as important as eating well, avoiding tobacco and drinking in moderation.But studies and testimony from centenarians suggest that lasting friendships, community ties, as well as generous pensions and decent healthcare, can be as important as eating well, avoiding tobacco and drinking in moderation.
Their longevity is remarkable, but Kimura's and Okawa's records stand a good chance of being beaten by their compatriots: according to Japan's health ministry more than 51,000 Japanese people are aged 100 or over.Their longevity is remarkable, but Kimura's and Okawa's records stand a good chance of being beaten by their compatriots: according to Japan's health ministry more than 51,000 Japanese people are aged 100 or over.
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