Guinness: Japanese, who believes in smiling, is oldest man

A Japanese man with a sweet tooth who believes in smiles has become world's oldest male at 112 years and 344 days old, according to Guinness World Records. Chitetsu Watanabe, who was born in Niigata in rrn Japan in 1907, received a certificate for his accomplishment on Wednesday at a nursing home in city.

previous record holder, Masazo naka, ar Japanese, died last month. oldest living person is also Japanese, Kane Tanaka, a 117-year-old woman.

Until about a dece ago, Watanabe used to do bonsai, Japanese tritional art of raising small sculpted trees, and h his work exhibited.

se days, he loves desserts such as custards and cream puffs, Guinness said.

Watanabe gruated from agricultural school and n moved to Taiwan to work at Dai-Nippon Meiji Sugar on sugar cane plantation contracts.

He lived in Taiwan for 18 years. He married Mitsue and y h five children, Guinness said in a statement.

After end of World War II, Watanabe returned to Niigata and worked for prefectural government until retirement. He also grew fruit and vegetables on family farm.

Asked about secret to longevity, Watanabe has this vice: Don't get angry and keep smiling.