World’s Oldest Man Dies At 116

Jiroemon Kimura
Jiroemon Kimura

The world’s oldest ever man, a Japanese man Jiroemon Kimura, has died aged 116.

Kimura, who lived in Kyotango near Kyoto in western Japan, died on Wednesday after suffering a bout of pneumonia.

Guinness World Records had recognised him as the world’s oldest living person, the oldest living man and the oldest man ever. He died of natural causes.

He became the world’s oldest person on December 17, 2012, after the previous oldest person, a 115-year-old woman from Iowa died, according to Guinness World Records.

Kimura was born in 1897, the same year as aviator Amelia Earhart and the year Queen Victoria marked her Diamond Jubilee.

He worked as a postal employee and as a farmer at his home. On his 115th birthday, Kimura said he was keeping his mind fit by learning English. He attributed his longevity to getting out in the sunlight.

“I am always looking up towards the sky. That is how I am,” Kimura said then.

Kimura is survived by seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren. 

The title of oldest living person is now another Japanese, Misao Okawa of Osaka, who turned 115 on March 5. She is also the world’s oldest living woman.

Japan has more than 50,000 centenarians, 2011 government data shows. Whatever accounts for their longevity, the world is set to explore.

 

5 COMMENTS

  1. What I̶̲̥̅̊ don’t like in my life į̸̸̨§ fuse information, if this į̸̸̨§ the can of Record Guinness World Record have, that means a every thing about them į̸̸̨§ lie. More than three people have died in IMO STATE OF NIGERIA at the age of 125 and 128. And also have people who į̸̸̨§ still alive at the age of 120 and above. I’m ready to prove my Point if you argue my commit…

  2. i dnt agree dat he is d oldest man on earth….Come to Nigeria nd U wil see dat God blessed us wit long life..we ve men nd women above his age….In Anambra state precisely Obosi we call dem Ogbuehi..cos of their ages…pls is unfair cos we ve alots of dem in mytown including mymum’s Aunty…

  3. This info isn’t correct. How can she be the oldest person in the world over? In Nigeria of today, there are people older than that. In fact, go to places like Ondo, Ekiti, Ilesha, Ile-Ife, Ede etc. you will see how old people are usually kept in the sun just to warm up their bodies.