111-year old Japanese, Sakari Momoi rocks

Sakari Momoi, retired educator, poses for a photo after receiving a certificate from a Guinness Word Records official, on Wednesday (20/08/2014)  -  Image courtesy - AP photo

Sakari Momoi, a 111-year old Japanese, has been recognised as the oldest man by Guinness World Records.  Momoi, whose date of birth is 05/02/1903, wishes to live another couple of years.  Barring some “hearing” issues, Momoi, a former teacher, is in decent shape.  Japan is the “fastest aging country and has the highest average life expectancy – 80.21 for men and 86.61 for women”.  Incidentally, the world’s oldest living person is also a Japanese, Misao Okawa (116 year-old woman). 

You and I don’t have the age to bless Momoi, but certainly we can congratulate him.  Though other details are not available, it is not difficult to identify him as the supercentenarian.  Momoi has obviously witnessed the world transitions at many stages – changing technologies, World Wars I & II, the Great Depression …..  As of now, he has lived 72 years from WW II.  Wow, he has certainly seen a lot of events in his life time, and has outlived most of the people in the world in many stages  at different times.  He is a witness to “Wright” brothers flying, the Titanic sinking, stock markets crashing, changing and toppling of governments, 9/11 attack ….  That kind of age should have probably brought enormous depth of wisdom.  Or, is it debatable?

What is the secret of Momoi’s longevity?

People must have attributed this or that for that sort of long life.  It can be basic discipline, proper dieting, fitness, exercise…, but at the base it could be their genes.  "Luck” factor, probably, could be  one of the things, as he is an obvious survivor, having avoided serious diseases and accidents.

Momoi is mentally very active, which is good cover against Alzheimer’s disease – he reads, loves poetry – those brain cells must be consistently alert, despite his advanced age.  A Japanese man who enjoys reading Chinese poetry in itself is poetic.  The longer life expectancy can also perhaps be attributed to the ability to handle stress well.  Longevity is a blessing as long as one stays physically and mentally fit.  After seeing his age of 111, it is fascinating to notice the vast gap between retirement and old age.

Is life really worth at that stage?

We see so many people living on chronic medication.  “I guess these medicines are keeping me alive” – a common confession we hear about.  And there is a lot of truth.  If you suffer from Alzheimer’s, arthritis, BP, hearing, vision ….etc. issues, it is no picnic.  If there is constant pain and a battle just to keep on living, just trying to survive the pains and medical issues on a day-to-day basis, there is nothing quality about it.  Before you figure out how to live longer,one must start focusing how to make it “lively”.

Do you believe that all the people who sacrifice so much “living”  to get this “old” have the right mindset?  Does 111 sound scary, or people would be nice to you?  How about experiencing at least one day at 100?  If you are, say 50, and look at some one who is 20, you may feel old, but when you look at some one at 80/90, your thought process is different.  There is a difference  between a present quality and speculative predictions about the future. 

We are only too familiar with views like “I would not want to live that old”, or “I wouldn’t live like that, rather I’d die….”.  But as you age, it appears you might see things in a different perspective.  In many families, we do observe that even as the parents are alert and active, the grown-up children find them out-dated.  Even if you take second-reading, Momoi has five children and probably dozens of grand children and great-grand-kids, yet he was dumped in a nursing home.  Old-age in our culture is more seen as a “curse”.

I am young and that’s how I think too

As long as I would take care of myself, I would prefer to go on living, else it is a prolonged agony.  Any second opinion?  People generally don’t think of dying, given the  numerous distractions they have.  Keep busy.  Momoi is a great inspiration to remain sharp and he speculates on how many years he would like to live. Enjoy living, there is  always a tomorrow.  Life must be funny, even at old age, I don’t know though! There can be more fun if money and health can coordinate each other.  Live, laugh, love and be happy.  Well, its upto you.

Mr. Momoi, you sport only 90, whereas calendar has a different figure of 111 for you.  Why you are shooting only for two more years?  That seems pretty realistic.  I can’t wish you a long life, you have already had that, but I wish you as many years as you want.  Sir, persons like you can be global game changers when it comes to human life span.  A good looking man for 111 – may you continue the journey to its fullest potential.  Also, the Japanese honour the elderly a lot more than we do.  In the meantime, let’s try to understand our parents and grand-parents – how they live/d a long life.

At the moment, I am immortal.