Man's 116th Birthday: Japanese Man Celebrates Being Oldest Person Alive (VIDEO, PHOTO)
A man's 116th birthday is being celebrated in Japan on Friday. A former postman, Jiroemon Kimura was born in western Japan in 1897 and holds the title of being the world's oldest living person.
Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, and is believed to be the last known man currently alive who has lived across three different centuries. Overall there are 12 people currently recorded in the world who have lived over the three centuries, however, Kimura is the only male among them.
The man worked as a postman until he was 65 year olds, according to reports. After that he took up farming to keep him through his retirement until he was 90 years of age.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
However, even since that time he has lived more than another quarter of a century, and the Guinness World Records has certified Kimura as the oldest living man in the world as well as the world's oldest living person.
Every year now is another landmark for the elderly man, and this year Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a video message to Kimura, saying that it "is absolutely amazing" that he holds both records.
Kimura's records have made him quite the celebrity in the country, and especially the region where he lives. The mayor of Kyotango City in western Japan where he lives also visited him to help celebrate his 116th birthday.
The record holder currently lives being cared for by his grandson's widow.
According to reports, he has 14 grandchildren and dozens of great, and great-great grandchildren, local media have pointed out.
Here is a video of the man:
