Tomoji Tanabe
(born September 18, 1895) is a Japanese supercentenarian and, currently, at age 112, the oldest living man in the world. Tanabe became the oldest living man in Japan following the death of Nijiro Tokuda on June 12, 2006, who was 111 at the time, and upon the death of 115-year-old Emiliano Mercado del Toro on January 24, 2007, he assumed The Title of the oldest validated living man in the world. Several women are older however, including 114-year-old American Edna Parker, who is currently the oldest validated person in the world. There are three older Japanese women, the oldest of whom is Tsuneyo Toyonaga, who is 113 years old. Tanabe is the last remaining documented male from 1895. With the death of fellow 112-year-old Anne Christopher on October 10, 2007, Tanabe now ranks in the top twenty oldest living people.
In spite of being the youngest "oldest living man" since 1999, he ranks among the top 25 oldest men ever.
Born in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, he worked as a civil engineer at the city office. He has eight children, 25 grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. Tanabe says total abstinence from alcohol is the secret to his longevity.
On his 112th birthday, Tanabe stated that: "I want to live forever. I don't want to die," as he received 100,000 yen ($870) and flowers from the local mayor. Tanabe (Guinness Book of World Records' oldest living male, June 2007) is "extremely healthy." Tanabe eats vegetables and does not drink alcohol, just daily milk.
See also
- List of living supercentenarians
- List of the oldest people
- Oldest people
- Supercentenarian
References
de:Tanabe Tomoji el:Τομότζι Τανάμπε ja:田鍋友時 es:Tomoji Tanabe pl:Tomoji Tanabe pt:Tomoji Tanabe fi:Tomoji Tanabe zh:田鍋友時