On his 113th birthday on 18 Sep. 2008, Tomoji Tanabe said that he wants to live for “at least another five years”. That is a downgrade from last year when he said he wanted to live forever.
Tanabe, who became the world’s oldest man after Emiliano Mercado del Toro died on 24 Jan. 2007 at the age of 115, celebrated his birthday at his hometown of Miyakonojo in Southern Japan.
His mayor gave him birthday gifts, flowers and $1,000 in cash. He also received a giant tea cup with his name and birthdate engraved on it.
According to a city official, Tanabe’s favourite food is fried shrimp. But he added: “we’ve heard that he’s cut back on oily food.”
Despite the fried shrimp, Tanabe’s longevity is the result of a healthy lifestyle.
He told reporters that he wakes up at 5.30 a.m. everyday to read the papers, never misses a meal, and drinks a glass of milk every afternoon.
“No drinking or smoking,” he emphasised. “I am happy… I eat a lot.”
Tanabe lives with a son and his wife, and has 8 children, 25 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
The Japanese have the longest life expectancies in the world – 86 years for women, and 79 years for men.
Tanabe is not the oldest living person though. Edna Parker, 115-years-old is. She lives in a nursing home in Indiana and was born on 20 April 1893.
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