World's oldest man dies in Japan aged 112

Tokyo, July 7 (IANS/EFE) Sakari Momoi, a Japanese man recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living man, has died a natural death here aged 112.

Momoi was born on February 5, 1903 in Minamisoma city in Fukushima prefecture in central Japan. He was named the oldest living man by the Guinness Book in August 2014.

This title will now pass on to another Japanese, Yasutaro Koide, also 112 and only a month younger than Momoi, state-run broadcaster NHK reported.

Koide is yet to be certified by Guinness.

Momoi, a resident of Saitama, passed away on Sunday, NHK said.

He spent the last few years of his life in a care home in Tokyo and was hospitalised just a week ago for kidney failure, which led to his death.

Momoi, who celebrated his 112th birthday with his family in the care home in February, led a quiet life, according to media reports.

He worked as an agricultural chemistry teacher and served as a school principal in Fukushima and Saitama.

According to the World Health Organisation, Japan enjoys the longest life expectancy in the world at 87 years.

In 2014, the country had almost 59,000 centenarians, of which 87 percent were women, a new record of the longevity of its population.

Currently, the world's oldest living person is American Susannah Mushatt Jones, who turned 116 on Monday.

--IANS/EFE

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