This Is the World's Oldest Man

A 111-year-old retired Japanese educator who enjoys poetry has been recognized as the world's oldest living man. Sakari Momoi received a certificate from Guinness World Records today. He succeeds Alexander Imich of New York, who died in June at the age of 111 years, 164 days. The world's oldest living person is also Japanese: Misao Okawa, a 116-year-old woman from Osaka.

Momoi was born Feb. 5, 1903, in Fukushima prefecture, where he became a teacher. He moved to the city of Saitama, north of Tokyo, after World War II and was a high school principal there until retirement. Asked how he felt about the record, Momoi said he wants to live longer. "Say, another two years," he said. Momoi said he enjoys reading books, especially Chinese poetry, and sometimes practices calligraphy. He said there is no special trick for his longevity, but his caregivers say Momoi keeps early hours and maintains a healthy diet, according to NHK public television. He has five children and lives at a nursing home in Tokyo. (More oldest man stories.)