115-year-old Japanese man confirmed world's oldest person

Jiroemon Kimura, a resident of Kyoto Prefecture's Kyotango city became the world's longest-living man as he reached the age of 115 years and 253 days to surpass the previous record holder, officials said.

Guinness postponed handing Kimura a certificate to this effect at his home because he has recently fallen ill and remained hospitalised, Kyodo news agency reported.

While Kimura is recuperating, he will stay in hospital over the New Year's holidays, the report said.

The previous male record holder was a US resident originally from Denmark who died at 115 years and 252 days in 1998. The longest-lived woman was from France and died at 122 years and 164 days in 1997.

Kimura became the world's longest living person earlier this month upon the death of a 115-year-old woman in the US state of Iowa.

Born on April 19, 1897, Kimura grew up to become a postal worker. He later worked as farmer until he turned about 90.