World's Oldest Man Dies at 113

[Hum]

TOKYO (AP) -- Tomoji Tanabe, the world's oldest man, died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan on Friday, a city official said. He was 113.

''He died peacefully. His family members were with him,'' said Junko Nakao, a city official in Miyakonojo on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Tanabe died of heart failure, she said.

Tanabe, who was born Sept. 18, 1895, had eight children -- five sons and three daughters. The former city land surveyor also had 25 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren, according to a statement from the Miyakonojo city. He was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest man when he was 111 years old.

Tanabe lived with his fifth son and daughter-in-law.

His favorite meals were fried shrimp and Japanese miso soup with clams, the statement said. Tanabe drank milk every morning and read the newspaper. He also avoided alcohol and did not smoke, the statement said.

The city's mayor, Makoto Nagamine, said Tanabe was ''the symbol of the Miyakonojo known as a city of long life.''

''I feel very saddened by his death,'' Nagamine said in a statement. ''He cheered many citizens.''

Japanese people have among the world's longest life expectancies -- nearly 86 years for women and 79 years for men -- which is often attributed to the country's healthy diet rich in fish and rice.

The number of Japanese living past 100 has more than doubled in the last six years, reaching a record high of 36,000 people in 2008. The country's centenarian ranks are dominated by women, who make up 86 percent of the total.

Japan's centenarian population is expected to reach nearly 1 million -- the world's largest -- by 2050, according to U.N. projections.

source

[macrosslover]

I really should consider eating like the Japanese cause they live forever. I'm sure there are other factors too.

[Growled Member]

The number of Japanese living past 100 has more than doubled in the last six years, reaching a record high of 36,000 people in 2008.

They are obvious doing something right.

[veritas310]

I have a feeling when you hit about 95, you're ready to go lol. It's like "comeon, I can't feed, bathe, or take care of myself, just let me go peacefully in my sleep already!" That's amazing though, 113, geez :)!

[Srugie Veteran]

He lived a long life.

[Angelic Marge]

Atleast he's got someone worthy to fill his shoes

World War I veteran Henry Allingham is the world's oldest man following the death of a 113-year-old in Japan, Guinness World Records has confirmed.

Mr Allingham, one of only two surviving WWI veterans in the UK and the last surviving founder member of the RAF, was born on 6 June 1896.

He was born in Clapton, London, and now lives at St Dunstan's Centre for blind ex-service personnel near Brighton.

Tomoji Tanabe died in his sleep at his home in southern Japan, aged 113.

Mr Tanabe was named as the world's oldest man in June 2007 and credited his longevity to drinking a daily glass of milk.

World events since 1896

1901 - Queen Victoria dies

1914 - WWI begins

1929 - The Wall Street Crash

1945 - First atomic bomb detonated

1953 - Everest climbed for the first time

1963 - President Kennedy assassinated

1969 - Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon

1977 - Death of Elvis Presley

1989 - Fall of the Berlin Wall

1990 - Nelson Mandela freed from prison after 27 years

2008 - US elects first black president

[darkmanx21]

Atleast he's got someone worthy to fill his shoes

Yeah, that is what I was thinking. He obviously saw a lot of **** in his life..CRAZY!

[Ci7]

Atleast he's got someone worthy to fill his shoes

you forgot WWII 1939

[perochan]

well, fish and rice and FRESH air in the southern Japan. most of oldest people live in the country where theres no pollution. they arent lazy like us using car and sitting all day staring at the computer.

[Angelic Marge]

you forgot WWII 1939

I did but the BBC obviously did, I forgot to add the link earlier.