Guess Their Age America’s Besse Cooper (left) was 114 and Japan’s Jiroemon Kimura (right) was 112 when these photos were taken. Besse was believed to be the oldest person in the world when she died at age 116 in 2012, and Jiroemon, who died in 2013, also at the age of 116, was the first man verified to have lived so long. Some of the reasons for longevity are visible: genes (note their smooth skin), caregivers (note Besse’s carefully coiffed hair and Jiroemon’s pristine white shirt), technology (glasses and hearing aid), and attitude (proud smiles). Not visible is their independence (Besse lived alone on a Georgia farm from ages 67 to 105) or many descendants (over 60 for Jiroemon).
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THE ASAHI SHIMBUN/GETTY IMAGES
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN/GETTY IMAGES