TOKYO (AFP) - The world's oldest man celebrated his 112th birthday Tuesday with a healthy Japanese breakfast of rice, miso soup and seaweed, saying he wanted to live forever.

Tomoji Tanabe, who has been the world's oldest man since January this year, lives with his son and family in Japan's southern prefecture of Miyazaki. He keeps a diary and reads the newspaper every day.

"I want to live indefinitely. I don't want to die," he said as he marked his birthday, Kyodo News reported.

Tanabe, a teetotaller who has repeatedly said that avoiding alcohol is a secret of his longevity, was given a certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records by the mayor of his local municipality in June.

Japan has the largest population of centenarians in the world. The number of Japanese aged at least 100 years old is expected to top 30,000 by the end of September, the health ministry said in a recent report.

The Japanese people's renowned longevity is often attributed to eating the country's traditional healthy food, despite the hectic lifestyle many lead in the big cities.

But the longevity is also presenting a headache as the country has one of the lowest birthrates, raising fears of a future demographic crisis as a smaller pool of workers supports a mass of elderly.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070918/lf_afp/lifestylejapansenior

i dont think anyone would want to live forever....if you kept aging and aging.

I hope it's not a surprise party.

;)

wow damn crazy! 112 years and still goin strong

I am not surprised the man is Japanese. I didn't even click the thread yet and I told myself, "I bet this man is from Japan." Voila, I was right. They tend to live the longest. Their diets tend to be more fish and vegetables.

There are quite a few 113 year olds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_living_supercentenarians This man is 23rd on the list. His wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoji_Tanabe

Go USA! Though I'm shocked we have as many as we do.


Anyway, I find these people interesting, though I personally have no desire to live that long.

There are quite a few 113 year olds: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_living_supercentenarians This man is 23rd on the list. His wiki entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoji_Tanabe

Go USA! Though I'm shocked we have as many as we do.


Anyway, I find these people interesting, though I personally have no desire to live that long.
I know, who would take care of you at that age? Some nursing home? :eek:

One of my dear friends is a "matron" at a carehome and there was a resident there she was 105, my friend invited me up there some years ago when this lady was still living and she took me in to see her, oh she was a tiny little thing she couldnt move or talk she looked like a corpse without being horrible, the only sounds she would make was tiny screams when the care assistants bathed her. I wouldnt like to live that long.

One of my dear friends is a "matron" at a carehome and there was a resident there she was 105, my friend invited me up there some years ago when this lady was still living and she took me in to see her, oh she was a tiny little thing she couldnt move or talk she looked like a corpse without being horrible, the only sounds she would make was tiny screams when the care assistants bathed her. I wouldnt like to live that long.
That's sad. Reverting back to an infant basically. My great-grandma was that way before she died at 99. Tough to watch.

WOW - God bless him!! :D

I would hate to live that long. All your loved ones and friends are dying off and you're still going? No thanks.

God bless him though if he's enjoying it (which he seems to be)!

I hope it's not a surprise party.

;)
:rofl:

I wish I could live that long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my dear friends is a "matron" at a carehome and there was a resident there she was 105, my friend invited me up there some years ago when this lady was still living and she took me in to see her, oh she was a tiny little thing she couldnt move or talk she looked like a corpse without being horrible, the only sounds she would make was tiny screams when the care assistants bathed her. I wouldnt like to live that long.
I wouldn't want that either. How awful.:eek:

Happy birthday.

My take is, Id like to live as long as im healthy enough to enjoy it

Omedeto, Tanabe Ojii-sama! (Congratulations, Grandfather Tanabe)

My take is, Id like to live as long as im healthy enough to enjoy it

Omedeto, Tanabe Ojii-sama! (Congratulations, Grandfather Tanabe)
Great way to put it. It sounds like Tanabe is enjoying his life and as long as he is happy, then more power to him. I just feel sorry for the older people who end up like the lady mentioned on the previous page.