Japan’s oldest man, Kiyotaka Mizuno, from Kaketa, Iwata City, Shizuoka Prefecture, celebrated his 111th birthday on the 14th. Mayor Hiroaki Kusachi visited his home to congratulate him, saying, “Your health and longevity are a source of hope for the citizens. I hope you aim to be the world’s oldest man.”

Mizuno was born on March 14, 1914 (Taisho 3). He has lived through four eras: Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa. In his youth, he served as a guard for the Emperor and was stationed at the Imperial Palace during the February 26 Incident in 1936, an attempted military coup in Tokyo. A faction of young army officers, seeking political reform, assassinated key government figures and occupied parts of the capital before the rebellion was suppressed by the Imperial Army.

During World War II, Mizuno was deployed to the continent and later returned to Iwata after narrowly escaping death. After the war, he became a farmer, growing crops such as taro and green onions, continuing his agricultural work until the age of 80.

The Secret to His Longevity

Mizuno has been mindful of his diet since around the age of 100. His daily routine begins with waking up at 6:30 a.m., and he eats breakfast around 7:00 a.m. Every morning, he makes sure to eat a banana, and for dinner, he always includes yogurt. He enjoys snacks twice a day: at 10:00 a.m., he drinks milk and eats castella (a Japanese sponge cake), and at 3:00 p.m., he has a Yakult (a probiotic drink) and biscuits. He adopted these dietary habits around the age of 100 as part of his effort to maintain good health.

In the past, Mizuno used to enjoy drinking alcohol every night with his dinner. However, he decided to quit drinking at the age of 95 for health reasons.

Daily Life at 111 Years Old

Despite his advanced age, Mizuno remains active. During the day, he spends time sitting in a chair while exercising his hands and feet. When he is in the living room with his family, they adjust the television to his preferred channels, allowing him to enjoy news programs and live sports broadcasts.

He currently lives with his eldest son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild. Just before turning 109, he lost his eyesight. Until then, he made it a daily habit to read the newspaper and walk around the house to maintain his health. Even after losing his vision, he continues to engage with the world by listening to sumo wrestling and marathon broadcasts through headphones.

Mizuno eats three meals a day, focusing on seasonal ingredients while keeping his portions at approximately 70% of the recommended intake.

When asked about the secret to his longevity, Mizuno said, “I don’t dwell on things or worry too much.” He added, “I never expected to live this long. I just want to continue spending each day peacefully without being a burden to others.”

LongeviQuest extends warm congratulations to Kiyotaka Mizuno on his 111th birthday.

LongeviQuest also expresses sincere gratitude to Mizuno’s family for their time and cooperation in sharing his story. We wish him continued good health and many more joyful years ahead.