Shigechiyo Izumi

Shigechiyo Izumi (泉 重千代 Izumi Shigechiyo, June 29,1865/1880? – February 21, 1986) was considered the oldest recognized living person for several years and is still recognized as the longest-lived man in the world. He was a native of Tokunoshima in the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, whose people are well-known for their longevity. Assuming his claimed birthdate is correct, he would have attained an age of 120, years older than any other recognized male, and the second-longest documented lifespan in the world, second only to that of Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment. He was recorded as a 6-year-old in Japan's first census of 1871. His wife died aged 90. He worked until he was 105, drank Sho-chu (distilled from barley), and took up smoking at age 70. He attributed his long life to "God, Buddha, and the Sun."

External Links

Izumi at Guiness World Records

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