JEDDAH — In olden days people did not keep track of the childrens birth dates. The birth of their children was normally associated to a natural calamity, bumper harvest, visit of a close or distant relative for the first or last time, death of a family member or a leader, seasons among others. So, if people back then did not have any formal birth records then how do we determine who is the oldest person to have lived on this earth? It may not be possible to determine the oldest person alive or have lived world-wise, but it is surely possible country-wise as each country claims to have/had the oldest person — dead or alive? According to a local Arabic daily, Japan recently celebrated the birthday of a Japanese who is believed to be the eldest man alive. The Japanese prime minister has even offered his congratulations to the country's senior most citizen who left the hospital recently in good condition. The 116-year-old Japanese was born reportedly born on April 19, 1897. He has five sons, 14 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and 14 great great grandchildren. He worked at a local post office for 38 years after which he retired and worked as farmer until he reached 90. On the other hand, the oldest man in Al-Baha reportedly died Friday at the age of 142, another Arabic daily reported. He is believed to have traveled, 90 years ago to Ethiopia and France before settling in Italy, where he worked for more than 25 years. His family thought he had died but a decades later but he returned 70 years ago. The man, who spoke four languages, had met with King Abdulaziz in Taif who given him SR400 and a Bisht. — SG
