Secret to longevity told by oldest man in the world
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A 112-year-old person from Japan has been recognised as the world's oldest living man, writes dailymail.co.uk.
Masazo Nonaka from Japan was given the title on Tuesday after the previous holder, Francisco Nunez Olivera from Spain, passed away in February at the age of 113.
Far from being a health fanatic, however, Mr Nonaka's family revealed he has a rather surprising secret to his longevity.
The supercentenarian puts his resilience down to a love of sweets and hot baths.
Mr. Nonaka, from Ashoro, Japan, was born on July 25, 1905 - just months before Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity.
He currently lives with his family, who own and manages a 105-year-old hot springs inn.
"He needs a wheelchair to move but he is in good condition," said Yuko Nonaka, his granddaughter.
"He loves eating any kinds of sweets - Japanese or western style," she told AFP.
"He reads newspapers everyday and often soaks in the hot springs."
Mr 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.
According to his granddaughter Yuno, he grew up in a large family and succeeded his parents running the inn. He regularly soaks in the springs and also enjoys eating sweets, especially cakes.
Mr 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," NHK public television reported.
Nonaka has outlived all seven of his siblings, as well as his wife and two of their five children.
Guinness World Records is currently investigating possible contenders for the title of oldest living person as no one has been recognised since Violet Brown from Jamaica died in July 2017, aged 117.
Japan, known for the longevity of its people, has been home to several oldest title holders, including Jiroemon Kimura, who died in June 2013 at the age of 116.
There are around 68,000 people aged 100 or older in the country, the government said last year.