World’s oldest person died at the age of 116

Related

A Japanese man, Jiroemon Kimura, died on Wednesday. He had been hospitalized for pneumonia since last month.

Kiumura was the first who passed the age of 116. He became the world’s oldest person on December 17, 2012, after the former title holder from Iowa died at the age of 115, 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 told reporters he was keeping his mind fit by learning English. He attributed his longevity to getting out in the sunlight.

Kimura is survived by seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren, Japanese media said.
The new world recorder comes also from Japan, a 115 years old woman from Kyoto, Okava Misao.

Japan has more than 50,000 centenarians.

Copyright © 2013 euronews