111 Year Old Japanese Guy Gets Recognized As The Oldest Living Man And He Looks Pretty Psyched About It

TOKYO –  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 at a ceremony Wednesday. 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 served as a high school principal there until retirement. At the televised ceremony, Momoi wore a dark suit and silver tie, with his white hair neatly combed back. He stood up from his wheelchair and moved to a chair next to it with little assistance.

Is there a worse award to receive than the one for being the oldest living man in the world?  I really don’t think there is.  Despite how our society portrays it, it’s not an accomplishment to be the oldest living man.  It really isn’t.  They’re basically handing you an award that says, “Congratulations, all your friends are dead.”  I mean look at that guy’s face.  Does he look excited?  Does he look like he just got an award that every person wants?  No, it doesn’t.  If that face doesn’t say “just kill me now” then I don’t know what does.  Dude looks MISERABLE.  You couldn’t pay me to live into the 100’s.  I would much rather get hit by a car in my 60’s, when my body is still mostly functional, than live into my 80s, 90s and 100s and slowly watch my world and body fall apart.  That poor old Japanese man’s face says it all.