Jiroemon Kimura is 115 years old, the oldest man ever documented in the history of the world. And now, he’s the oldest person currently living.

Before Kimura became the oldest person in the world, that title briefly belonged to Dina Manfredini of Johnston, Iowa. But Manfredini, also 115, passed away on Dec. 17, making Kimura of Japan the oldest person alive and the oldest man ever at the age of 115 years and 252 days old.

To put that in perspective, the Telegraph notes, Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, making him six years old at the time of the Wright Brothers’ first flight and 64 years old when Yuri Gagarin became the first person ever in space.

So what does it take to become the world’s oldest ever man? Kimura’s Facebook page states that he “wakes up early in the morning and reads newspapers with a magnifying glass. Also, he enjoys talking to guests and follows live parliamentary debates on television. According to him, small portions of food are the key to a long and healthy life.”

When asked by the Telegraph about the secret to his longevity, he replied, "I don't know exactly... maybe it's all thanks to the sun above me. I am always looking up towards the sky, that is how I am.”

So there you have it. If you want to be the oldest man in the history of the world, don’t sleep in, don’t eat too much, remain thankful, and keep a firm grasp on politics. Hey, it can’t hurt to try it, right?

While Kimura is indeed the oldest confirmed man in the world, he’s certainly not the oldest person ever. Ten women have lived longer than Kimura. The oldest confirmed person in the history of the world was Jeanne Calment, who was 122 years old when she died in France in 1997. But Kimura only has seven years to beat her record.

Kimura’s family consists of five children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 13 great-great- grandchildren. That’s quite a family.

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