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TOKYO - THE world's oldest man, Japan's Tomoji Tanabe, turned 113 on Thursday and cited a big appetite but strict diet as secrets to his longevity.
Mr Tanabe, who has nearly 100 direct descendants, walked unassisted in a kimono chosen for his birthday to accept a large bouquet of flowers in front of flashing cameras.
'I tell ya, I am happy,' he said in a clear voice to reporters who came to his home in southern Miyazaki prefecture.
'I eat a lot,' he said, but added he strictly avoided alcohol, cigarettes and snacks.
His hobbies include perusing the newspaper, keeping a diary and talking with people. He has said he wants to live at least 10 more years.
Mr Tanabe, who lives with a son and daughter-in-law, has eight children, 25 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
The world's oldest person of either gender is 115-year-old Edna Parker, who lives in a nursing home in the US Midwestern state of Indiana.
Japan has one of the world's highest life expectancy rates, which is attributed to a mix of factors including a traditional healthy diet with plenty of vegetables.
The number of centenarians is expected to stand at 36,276 at the end of the month.
But Japan is also faced with a future demographic crisis as fewer young people start families, putting pressure on the economic system. -- AFP
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