Luckiest man alive: Japanese grows 63-leaves clover

The superstition surrounding four-leaf clovers is rooted in the belief that finding one brings good luck. A five-leaf clover is even rarer than the four-leaf variety and is also considered a symbol of extra good luck.

While the four-leaf clover traditionally represents faith, hope, love, and luck, the fifth leaf is often interpreted as symbolizing extra money or wealth. The increased rarity of finding a five-leaf clover enhances its reputation as a powerful good luck charm.

By this logic, Yoshiharu Watanabe has made him "the luckiest man alive," the Guinness World Records wrote on its website last Thursday as it announced the world record for the clover with most leaves.

Yoshiharu Watanabe (R) presents a certificate granted by the Guinness World Records for his 63-leave clover (L) in his garden in Japan, June 2024. Photos courtesy of Guinness World Records

Yoshiharu, 45, has been cross-pollinating clovers in the garden at his home since 2012.

 He told Guiness that whenever he saw a clover with four leaves or more, he took it home.

"The plant is pretty strong and you don't have to do anything to it, so I just left them, then they just prospered."

After discovering a 20-leaf clover in his garden a few years later, the idea of achieving the world record began to seem possible to him.

The previous record for the most leaves on a clover was set in 2009 by Shigeo Obara from Hanamaki City, Japan, who grew a 56-leaf clover.

Yoshiharu recalled that he had hand-pollinated clovers with the most leaves in addition to natural pollination.

By 2020, he grew a 49-leaf clover, and in 2021, he nearly matched the world record with a 55-leaf clover. However, he was unable to increase the number of leaves further after that.

He explained that the number of leaves can fluctuate, and while genetics play a role in producing more leaves, the exact mechanism remains unknown.

He was "pleasantly surprised" to see his now-record-breaking clover surpass 60 leaves when he counted them.

"People say that a four-leaved clover brings you happiness, so it would be great if this 63-leaved clover would bring surprise and pleasure to people."