TOKYO (Reuters) - Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a World War Two naval officer and one of Japan’s longest-serving premiers, marked his 100th birthday on Sunday with a call to revise the nation’s post-war, pacifist constitution.

FILE PHOTO: Former Japan Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone attends an interview with Reuters reporters in Tokyo January 25, 2010. REUTERS/Michael Caronna

Nakasone, who trod the world stage with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during his 1982-1987 tenure, has long advocated amending the U.S.-drafted charter to clarify the ambiguous status of the military - a goal shared by incumbent premier Shinzo Abe.

He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public.

“To resolutely open the path to the nation’s future ... is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media.

Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for U.S. forces and bottle up the Soviet navy.

Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the annual defense budget to 1 percent of gross national product.

A former lieutenant in the Imperial Navy who lost his younger brother in World War Two, Nakasone outraged Asian countries when he made an official visit to Tokyo’s Yasukuni shrine, where convicted war criminals are honored along with Japan’s war dead, on the 40th anniversary of Japan’s surrender.

He decided not to repeat the pilgrimage after it sparked riots in China.

Nakasone was forced to retire in 2003 when he was 85, along with other elder statesmen, by then-premier Junichiro Koizumi, who was keen to rejuvenate the Liberal Democratic Party’s image as a party of staid, elderly politicians.

Commenting on the reasons for his longevity, Nakasone cited a disciplined life, interest in nature - and an insatiably inquiring mind.</s>ZANESVILLE, Ohio- A woman born during World War I celebrated her 100th birthday today at Eaglesticks Golf Course. WHIZ caught up with her and her loved ones on her special day.

Anna Wilson was born on this day back in 1918. Anna’s family said she was a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, enjoys telling stories, and likes to do crossword puzzles. Looking back over the last 100 years, Anna said she lived a good life.

“Yes. I’m glad to be alive,” said Wilson. “Had a lot of good and a lot of bad.”

Her granddaughter, Elizabeth Shambles, said Anna is independent for the most part and has a strong bond with those who take care of her.

“She lives at home still by herself. Although she still has caretakers, you know, they have a special relationship. They’re here today,” said Shambles.

When asked to give the secret to a long life….

Her tip may be legit considering she’s outlived other family members.

“She kept saying ‘well my grandmom died when she was 95 and my mom died when she was 95’ so we’re really excited to be here on her 100th birthday,” Shambles shared.

Shambles said her grandmother has always had a great sense of humor which is evidenced by the names she gave her three sons..

“Tom, Dick, and Harry,” Shambles said while laughing.

Anna spent her birthday surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.</s>It is somehow fitting in a country known for longevity that one of Japan’s most prominent former leaders has reached 100 years of age.

As a second world war naval officer, Yasuhiro Nakasone witnessed the depths of his country’s utter defeat and devastation.

Four decades later he presided over Japan in the 1980s at the pinnacle of its economic success. In recent years, he has lobbied for revision of the war-renouncing, US-drafted constitution, a long-time cause that neither he nor any successor has achieved to date.

He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public.

“To resolutely open the path to the nation’s future … is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media.

Nakasone, who is cared for by his 71-year-old daughter at their Tokyo home, is slowing down but in fine health, his aide Masaki Donji said.

He skipped his annual speech at a May rally in support of constitutional revision, because he had broken his right hand and couldn’t use his cane to get up from his wheelchair.

Still, he checks newspapers every morning and reads books, and sometimes drops by his office, escorted by his family.

“Endless hunger for exploration and intellectual curiosity is crucial,” Nakasone said

The son of a timber merchant, Nakasone was born May 27, 1918, the last year of the first world war. He went to Tokyo Imperial University before entering the navy, where he rose to lieutenant commander during the second world war.

He began his political career as a fiery nationalist denouncing the US occupation, which lasted from 1945 to 1952.

He was a driving force in the 1950s behind building nuclear reactors in resource-poor Japan, a move that helped propel the nation’s post-war economic growth and recovery.

During more than a half-century in parliament, he served as defence chief and head of the powerful Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

As prime minister from 1982 to 1987, he strengthened Japan’s defence and alliance with the US while tackling vested interests to launch the privatisation of the state telephone, tobacco and railway companies.

Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with ormer US president Ronald Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for US forces and bottle up the Soviet navy.

His nationalist legacy includes the first official visit by a post-war prime minister to Yasukuni Shrine, which honours Japan’s war dead, among them convicted war criminals.

His visit fuelled disputes with China and South Korea over second war history that persist to this day.

Both nationalist and wrestling with the same issues – stronger military, constitutional revision and even trade friction with the US – Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been compared to Nakasone by some Japanese media and analysts.

But Japan that Abe leads today is no longer at its peak and China is now a rival to the US, prompting Abe to be more hawkish toward Beijing’s aspirations.

“The important difference between these two leaders is that Nakasone experienced the war, the real battlegrounds and saw his buddies killed. This brought some intrinsic humbleness to Nakasone, though he often looks haughty,” said Hiro Aida, an international politics professor at Aoyama Gakuin University in Tokyo.

Nakasone is not the first ex-Japanese leader to reach 100; Prince Naruhiko Higashikuni, the prime minister for 54 days immediately after the second world war, lived to be 102.

Japan is home to more than 67,000 centenarians, including the world’s oldest person, a 117-year-old woman.

Nakasone says he is not done yet.

“I am determined to devote myself to my last service for the country, for the people and for my hometown,” he said.

Nakasone was forced to retire in 2003 when he was 85, along with other elder statesmen, by then-premier Junichiro Koizumi, who was keen to rejuvenate the Liberal Democratic Party’s image as a party of staid, elderly politicians.</s>Animal care organisation – The PDSA, People’s Dispensary For Sick Animals, celebrates its 100th birthday this year.

Today it is celebrating with an open day at its hospital in Newhall Road in Attercliffe between 10am and 2 pm. There will be many attractions there including a range of pet stalls, in addition to tours of the operating rooms and x-ray facilities, cakes on sale, pet stalls, a bouncy castle and a dog show. The PDSA treats 470,000 pets annually in Britain for people on low incomes, so these dogs and cats too can lead long, healthy and happy lives. They know how much joy our pets give us and this is even more important when times are hard. The Sheffield hospital costs £1.3 million pounds a year to run and receives no government funding.</s>RICHLAND, WA.-- When you hear the number 105 it's more likely to be followed by the word "degrees" rather than "years old". However, one Richland resident, Loris Brinkman celebrated his 105th birthday on Friday. That's something most people can only dream about!

A well-traveled man, Loris has been all over the globe. But earlier he told KNDU that, in all his years on earth, he has one treasured memory that sticks out above the rest.

"We took a trip all over Africa," said Loris, "And saw all of the big animals.That was the biggest thrill of my life!"

Loris celebrated surrounded by his kids, grand-kids, and even great-grand-kids. Happy birthday, Loris!</s>CHATTANOOGA (WRCB)- One Chattanooga man has a lot to celebrate as he turns 100 years old!

Larkin Bibbs, known as 'Grand-Daddy' to family and friends, was born December 14th, 1911, and celebrated his 100th birthday, Wednesday.

"And he called me and he said, 'I made it! I made it!'," says his daughter, Carolyn.



Carolyn Nerren is the youngest of Bibbs' six children, ranging in age from 36 to 73.

"I think it's amazing," Carolyn says. "I think it's really amazing that he lived to see a hundred years old."



Bibbs was born in Alabama, worked on a farm, and later moved to Chattanooga in his 30s.

"He's helped build a couple of dams here," his daughter recalls. "He's ran paper routes, picking up paper routes for many, many years."



He continued to work well into his 80s, and has touched the lives of many, including Tamara Hitchcock, who claims Bibbs as her own 'Grand-Daddy'.

"I love my Grand-Daddy," Hitchcock says. "He raised me to be what I am today."



She says she is inspired by his lifetime of stories.

"His wisdom," Hitchcock says. "Being here for a hundred years, he has seen a lot and he knows a lot."



Grand-Daddy says the key to living so long and seeing the number 100 on your cake boils down to one thing: "You've got to be honest," he says.

He says that will get you to the right place.

"Well if you want to go to Heaven and be in the next world, that's what you got to do."

"They're glad tears," says Bibbs as sits around with family, shedding tears of joy with one hundred reasons to back them up.</s>TOKYO: Former Japanese prime minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, a World War Two naval officer and one of Japan´s longest-serving premiers, marked his 100th birthday on Sunday with a call to revise the nation´s post-war, pacifist constitution. Nakasone, who trod the world stage with Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher during his 1982-1987 tenure, has long advocated amending the US -drafted charter to clarify the ambiguous status of the military - a goal shared by incumbent premier Shinzo Abe. He urged politicians to seriously tackle the matter, which remains a contentious topic among the Japanese public. “To resolutely open the path to the nation´s future . . . is the essence of politics,” Nakasone said in a statement issued to mark his birthday that was carried by Japanese media. Known for his “Ron and Yasu” friendship with Reagan, Nakasone made headlines after taking office when he said that, in the event of a war, he would make Japan an unsinkable “aircraft carrier” for US forces and bottle up the Soviet navy. Nakasone also broke an unwritten rule on limiting the annual defence budget to 1 percent of gross national product. A former lieutenant in the Imperial Navy who lost his younger brother in World War Two, Nakasone outraged Asian countries when he made an official visit to Tokyo´s Yasukuni shrine, where convicted war criminals are honoured along with Japan´s war dead, on the 40th anniversary of Japan´s surrender.</s>Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari’s big birthday bash had made national headlines last year. Gadkari, who was in Nagpur last year, had cut a massive 60-kg cake arranged by Bharatiya Janata Party activists and his supporters in afternoon amidst a thunderous applause, loud cheers and blessings to the leader. The birthday bash started with a massive garland offered to Gadkari, who was seen wearing a simple kurta-pyjama, with lots of selfies and pictures clicked.

As Gadkari had turned 60 last year, the main function at the Kasturchand Park had seen attendance of several heavyweights, including BJP President Amit Shah, Nationalist Congress President Sharad Pawar, senior Congress leaders and former Chief Ministers Narayan Rane and Sushilkumar Shinde.

However, this time Gadkari ‘celebrated’ the birthday in a different style. The member of parliament, who was entrusted with the responsibility of building national infrastructure, was seen accompanying PM Narendra Modi for the inauguration of one of two big highway projects in Delhi-NCR. Gadkari was a part of the gathering that inaugurated Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Eastern Peripheral Expressways. The prime minister, after inaugurating the 14-lane highway spanning Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to UP Gate, rode in an open car, waving at crowds gathered on either sides of the highway. Gadkari, Road Transport and Shipping Minister, too rode in a separate open car alongside Modi.

His day started from a special greeting from PM Narendra Modi. The prime minister took to Twitter and acknowledged Gadkari’s efforts for party and nation. Modi said, “Birthday greetings to my valued colleague @nitin_gadkari Ji. Nitin Ji has made a mark as an effective administrator with a key role in creating next-generation infrastructure for India,” Modi said. “His work for the BJP organisation has been extensive and valuable. I pray for his long life,” he added.

Along with Modi, a host of political heavyweights, including BJP chief Amit Shah, also extended their greeting to Gadkari.</s>NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A Nashville family celebrated a World War II veteran's 99th birthday this Memorial Day weekend with cake and a lot of war stories.

Joe B. Davis fought three years with the 1st Infantry Division from November 1942 to November 1945. He was stationed in Algeria, Tunisia, and Sicily.

"I was in Infantry, you see, they had it pretty rough. Good ole Infantry. I would've been in D-Day if I hadn't gotten wounded in Sicily," he said.

On Sunday, Davis spent the afternoon with his family made up of five generations.

Every year, his family listens to his war stories and sings happy birthday to him. His birthday is more special as it falls before Memorial Day.

"We try to celebrate his birthday the best we can every year, just not because he's our grandfather, but also because tomorrow is a very special day being Memorial Day. So we celebrate everybody," granddaughter Christine Gallegos said.

Gallegos and her family said Davis' memories about surviving war and his stories he tells them are something they cherish.

"To be able to still talk to us and still tell memories because a lot of people do not have the mindset like he has at 99 years old. He makes sure that he still calls me. When I leave work and come home from work," she said.

Gallegos said her grandfather worked years at the U.S. Postal Service and still remembers zip codes and street names around Davidson County.</s>Half the time when parents are having a “birthday party” for kids younger than six, they’re really having a party for themselves.

One Elmo thought it was his birthday when “Juju On That Beat” by Zay Hilfigerrr & Zayion McCall came on…

Like it legit looks like kids were leaving the room so Elmo could do his thing.

Aaaye! This Elmo Was LITTY At Some 5-Year Old’s Birthday Party was originally published on globalgrind.com
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone celebrates his 100th birthday.