Japanese man, 112, becomes world's oldest

<br>TOKYO (AP) _ Yukichi Chuganji, a 112-year-old retired silkworm breeder from Japan, has inherited the Guinness Book of Records title for the world's oldest man. <br><br>Guinness informed the Ogori

Sunday, February 3rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TOKYO (AP) _ Yukichi Chuganji, a 112-year-old retired silkworm breeder from Japan, has inherited the Guinness Book of Records title for the world's oldest man.

Guinness informed the Ogori city government on Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu on Jan. 25 of Chuganji's achievement, his 72-year-old daughter, Kyoko, said.

The Guinness Web site confirmed the title.

Born March 23, 1889, in the farming town of Ogori, Chuganji had been a silkworm breeder and adviser since graduating from technical school as a teen-ager in the early 1900s.

Chuganji was honored by Guinness after Italian Antonio Todde, died in Sardinia at the beginning of January, just shy of his 113th birthday. Todde was born on Jan. 22, 1889.

``I was surprised and pleased by the honor. I could live a few more years,'' Kyoko quoted her father as saying.

Asked about his secret to longevity, Kyoko said: ``My daddy eats and drinks alcohol moderately. And he is an optimist.''

Yukichi, who is bed-ridden, lives with Kyoko. He sits up in bed when he eats and likes beef and pork with his meals of rice and miso soup, Kyoko said.