International News

TOKYO, (APP/AFP) – A 96-year-old Japanese man is
potty at the prospect of breaking more records after being recognised as the world’s oldest university graduate with his degree in ceramic arts.
Spritely senior Shigemi Hirata received his Guinness World Records
certificate on Friday after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kyoto
University of Art and Design earlier this year, local media reported Saturday.
Born on a Hiroshima farm in 1919 — the year the Allies and Germany
signed the Treaty of Versailles — Hirata is something of a celebrity on campus.
“Students whose name I don’t even know call out to greet me,” he told
Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper.
“That gives me a lot of energy.”
Hirata, who took 11 years to complete his ceramic arts course after
taking up pottery as a pensioner, insisted he was not done setting records.
“My goal is to live until I’m 100,” he said. “If I’m fit enough it
might be rather fun to go to graduate school.”
Hirata, who served in the navy during World War II and has four
great-grandchildren, added: “I’m so happy. At my age it’s fun to be able to
learn new things.”