World’s Oldest Man, 116, Last Man Alive from 19th Century

The world's oldest man, Jiroemon Kimura, is all smiles as he celebrates his 116th birthday, which bags him the title of being the oldest living man by the Guinness World Records. Born in the year 1897, Kimura from Japan is the last man alive who was born in the 19^th century.

The supercentenarian, who was born April 19, 1897, is a resident of Kyotango, Japan, and is also the oldest man in verified history. The world's oldest living woman, 115-year-old Misao Okawa is also from Japan.

Kimura worked for the Japanese post office for 45 years and retired at the age of 65. He has lived through four Japanese emperors, two World Wars and 61 Japanese Prime Ministers.

"I truly congratulate you on your 116th birthday," Japan's Prime Minister Shenzo Abe said in a video message. "I'm 58 years old, still a young man at only half your age. Thanks to you generation's efforts, Japan could overcome several difficult times and achieve the prosperity we enjoy today. Your healthy existence becomes our confidence and pride," he said, as quoted by DNA India.

Data according to the Gerontology Research Group at UCLA claims that in the present day, around 21 women born before New Year's Day in 1901 are still living, reports Herald.

Kimura has five children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren. He claims that the secret to his long life is consuming a small portion of food and spending most of his time in bed. He believes that one should eat till 80 percent full.

However, according to Tom Perls, the director of the New England Centenarian Study at Boston University Medical Center, it's estimated that there are somewhere between 200 and 300 supercentenarians - people aged over 110 years - living in the world today, but only a handful have the birth records to prove it.

The oldest person ever on record was French woman Jeanne Calment, who died at 122 in the year 1997.