Japan Guinness World Records: Oldest College Graduate

Tokyo, Japan – June 7, 2016 – A 96-year-old man from Japan man has entered the Book of World Records after becoming the oldest person in the world to receive a university degree; Shigemi Hirata, who lives in Takamatsu, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Design from Kyoto University at the age of 96 years and 200 days, thus setting the new world record for being the Oldest college graduate.

Photo: Shigemi Hirata, who lives in Takamatsu, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Design from Kyoto University in March at the age of 96 years and 200 days.

The Guinness World Records world record for the oldest band is Golden Senior Trio (Japan), consisting of three active members aged 78, 81 and 89 years old, with an average age of 83 years and 19 days as of 5 July 2015.

Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the oldest croupier; it is Joanna Dodd (b. 15 January 1936, USA) who is still employed as a croupier at Flamingo Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA as of 20 February 2015, making her the oldest croupier, aged 79 years 36 days.

The navy veteran was motivated by his interest in traditional Japanese pottery to enrol in a distance-learning course at the age of 85, and took 11 years to complete his degree.

Hirata was born in Hiroshima on 1 September, 1919, and served in the navy during the Second World War. After the war ended, he worked as a security guard in a Takamatsu hospital until his retirement in the 1980s.

“My next goal is to live until 100. If I’m still in good shape at the time, I will consider going to graduate school,” joked Hirata, who has two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.