Japanese man reaches world record age

Tokyo -

A Japanese man reached the world record age of 115 years and 253 days on Friday, the Guinness Book of Records said.

Jirouemon Kimura on his 114th birthday at his home in Kyotango, western Japan. Credit: REUTERS

Jirouemon Kimura, of Kyotango city, near Kyoto, was born on April 19, 1897, and is “only the third man in history to be 115 years old”, Guinness said.

Kimura's life across three centuries has spanned “immense social and technological advances including the advent of motor vehicles, television, the internet and 6 UK monarchs, 5 emperors of Japan and 20 US presidents,” it said.

Kimura has 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.

He owes his longevity to his motto “eat light to live long”, the statement quoted him as saying.

Kimura worked at a local post office for 38 years. He turned to farming after his retirement and continued until the age of 90.

The Guinness record organisation postponed its presentation of Kimura's certificate because he has been recently hospitalised, the Kyodo News agency said, citing city officials.

The previous male record holder was Thomas Peter Thorvald Kristian Ferdinand 'Christian' Mortensen in the United States, who lived to 115 years and 252 days.

The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to 122 years and 164 days and died in 1997.

Kimura became the oldest currently living person this month when Dina Manfredini of Iowa in the US died aged 115 years and 257 days. - Sapa-dpa