Oldest man in recorded history Jiroemon Kimura dies in Japan aged 116

Title of world's oldest person now goes to 115-year-old Japanese woman Misao Okawa

The oldest known person in the world has died in Japan, aged 116.

Jiroemon Kimura, born on 19 April 1897, had been recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person and the oldest man ever.

Officials in Kyotango, Japan, said he died in a local hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment for pneumonia.

He became the oldest man ever on 28 December last year, when, at the age of 115 years and 253 days, he beat the record set by Christian Mortensen, a Danish immigrant to the United States, who lived from 1882 to 1998.

Another Japanese national, 115-year-old Misao Okawa, now becomes the world's oldest living person.

Okawa, of Osaka, was born on 5 March 1898.

Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said: "Jiroemon Kimura was an exceptional person. As the only man to have ever lived for 116 years — and the oldest man whose age has been fully authenticated — he has a truly special place in world history."

Kyotango officials said that Kimura's funeral would be held on Friday.