Shigechiyo Izumi

Shigechiyo Izumi (泉重千代 Izumi Shigechiyo, June 29 1865 or 1880 – February 21 1986) of the Tokunoshima, Amami Islands, Japan (where people are noted for their longevity), was, according to Guinness World Records, the person with the greatest authenticated age in the world after the death of Niwa Kawamoto. 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 lived human ever, second only to Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment. He also holds the record for the longest working career for a person, spanning 98 years. He was recorded as a 6-year-old in Japan's first census of 1871. His wife died at the age of 90. He drank shochu (a Japanese alcoholic beverage distilled from barley), and took up smoking at age 70. He began his career in 1872 goading draft animals at a sugar mill, and retired as a sugarcane farmer in 1970 at the age of 105. He attributed his long life to "God, Buddha, and the Sun." He stood at 1.42 meters (4 feet, 8 inches) tall and weighed 42.6 kilograms (94 pounds), and lived through 71 Japanese Prime Ministers.

On February 21, 1986 (the same day as Jeanne Calment's 111th birthday), he died of pneumonia after a brief hospitalization. He was 120 years and 237 days old (if 1865 birth year is correct). He was the last recognized surviving person of the 1860s.

Following his death, Mamie Eva Keith became the world's oldest person. Also since he died every person with the title of the world's oldest living person has been female.

Subsequent research has cast doubt on his claim, as what was previously believed to be his birth certificate may actually have been that of his older brother, who died young and whose name might have been reused as a necronym. Some Japanese experts, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that he was actually born in 1880 (see talk page for citation). If so, this would mean he was "only" 105 when he died.

Criticism

There are some who criticize the validity of his old age, challenges mentioned in centenarians and supercentenarians.

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Criticism

See also