112-yr old Japanese officially recognized as world’s oldest man

The Guinness World Records has officially recognized 112-year old Japanese as the world’s oldest man.

Yasutaro Koide, a 112-year-old resident of Nagoya, Japan, who recommends abstinence from smoking, drinking as well as the avoidance of stress as his secret to a long life, was Friday August 21, officially recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest man.

Koide was born on March 13, 1903, and worked as a tailor. He became the oldest man following the death of Sakari Momoi of Tokyo in July at the age 112.

Three of his seven children, two of his nine grandchildren and one great grandchild attended a ceremony at a nursing home where he was given a plaque and a green vase. Koike was beaming, but teary-eyed as those attending applauded.

“The best thing is to not overdo,” he said.

Koide also recommends not smoking or drinking, and said his favourite food is bread. Koike also recommends “enjoying everything,” according to local reports that say he can read the newspaper without glasses.

The newspaper Chunichi Shimbun quoted a granddaughter, Aya Kikuchi, saying her grandfather once tended to be very strict about manners. “He was very stubborn, but he got nicer with age,” she said.

One of the world’s fastest-ageing countries, Japan has about 54,000 centenarians. So many, in fact, the government is reportedly considering scrapping or scaling back a 52-year-old programme that presents each person reaching the century mark with an ornate sake dish and letter of congratulations from the prime minister.

The world’s oldest person remains Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York, United States, who celebrated her 116th birthday last Monday.