Oldest man, 112, enjoys sweets, soaking in Japan’s hot springs
tokyo — Masazo Nonaka has enjoyed soaking in northern Japan’s hot springs for many years — probably longer than most people.
The supercentenarian, whose family has run a hot springs inn for four generations, was certified on Tuesday as the world’s oldest living man, at age 112 years, 259 days.
Nonaka received the certificate from Guinness World Records in a ceremony at his home in Ashoro, on Japan’s northern main island of Hokkaido, and celebrated the recognition with a big cake.
Born on July 25, 1905, Nonaka grew up in a large family and succeeded his parents running the inn. The 105-year-old inn is now run by his granddaughter Yuko Nonaka. He regularly soaks in the springs and also enjoys eating sweets, especially cakes.
“He needs a wheelchair to move but he is in good condition,” said Yuko.
“He loves eating any kinds of sweets — Japanese or western style,” she said.
“He reads newspapers everyday and often soaks in the hot springs.”
Nonaka has seven brothers and one sister who live nearby in the town of Ashoro on Hokkaido.
He married Hatsuno in 1931 and the couple had five children, according to Guinness World Records.
Nonaka, wearing a knit cap and a kimono-style jacket, flashed a smile and posed for a group photo with his family, making a victory sign with his right hand.
He dug into the cake after it was cut and served, and said, “Delicious,” according to NHK public television.
His family members say Nonaka still moves about by himself in a wheelchair.
He reads a newspaper after breakfast every morning, and loves to watch sumo wrestling and samurai dramas on TV. But his favourite pastime is to soak in the hot springs and relax.
Nonaka has outlived all seven of his siblings, as well as his wife and two of their five children. Guinness says Nonaka replaced Francisco Olivera of Spain, who died earlier this year at age 113, as the world’s oldest man. —