Comments on: The World’s Oldest Living Man – Tomoji Tanabe of Miyazaki Prefecture

By: TofuUnion

TofuUnion — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 16:04:23 +0000

I can’t recall I had been taught about modern history of Japan after Meiji era at middle school or high school, when I was a kid in Japan. I think most history classes end up with learning from Asuka era to Meiji era.

That’s pretty bad most Japanese students know very little about 20th century history of Japan. I learned about it after I became an adult.

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:27:24 +0000

Definitely agree. I’ve talked with war vets before – including a former officer in Manchuria who was imprisoned by the Chinese communists, and former Tokko pilots. Some interesting stories, definitely. But what I was getting at was not so much the war stuff, but the chance to get a really REALLY long-term perspective on Japan’s modernisation (like asking war vets not just about the war, but times after).

From the S-J War, then ten years later the R-J War, after which Japan’s industrialisation really takes off, then the post-WW1 boom and slump, the effects of the Russian Revolution, the growth of democracy and party government in the Taisho period and its repression by the militaristic factions and the road to war, then the Occupation, the rebuilding, the High Growth Period, on up to the Bubble and beyond. This guy’s life is an entire university course….

By: shazzb0t

shazzb0t — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 09:40:35 +0000

That is exactly what I was thinking. I have interviewed many people who fought in WWII or lived through it. Their stories are always incredibly interesting to me. From one man telling me about how his aircraft carrier was sunk at the Battle of Midway and survived even though being strafed at by American fighters to a man who as a child was captivated by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (he was a bit on the odd side, haha) there is a lot I have learned about old Japan and new Japan just by asking. If you have the chance, please take it! They will love you for it I am sure!

By: the overthinker

the overthinker — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 04:33:56 +0000

I note James has done some editing….

This guy was born the year the Sino-Japanese War began. Nice to be reminded that Meiji isn’t ‘dead history’. And, assuming he’s been keeping that diary a good while, it could be a very very interesting historical resource for seeing, through one man’s eyes, how Japan changed in the past hundred years….

By: shazzb0t

shazzb0t — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:25:03 +0000

Wow, he lived during three different centuries.. thats pretty impressive. Many memories and so much change… incredible.

By: LondonGaijin

LondonGaijin — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 17:20:41 +0000

As long as he is content with life and not in any discomfort, may he live on and on!

By: Ryry

Ryry — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 16:17:40 +0000

He doesn’t mention the vast amount of medicinal orgies. They add years onto life.

By: Blasty

Blasty — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 09:53:23 +0000

Hahah yeah, I’m like, 8 years older than this wannabe lol!

By: feitclub

feitclub — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:42:56 +0000

No smoking or drinking? A daily routine of reading the paper and writing in a diary? That doesn’t sound like much of a life.

By: CS

CS — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:26:35 +0000

According to this article I’m one of the oldest people in the world.

SWEET!