Japan: World's Oldest Man Ever Dies Aged 116

The oldest man to have ever lived has died in Japan at the age of 116.

Jiroemon Kimura, who was also the world's oldest living person, was admitted to a Kyoto hospital for pneumonia in May but passed away in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The Guinness World Records said Mr Kimura was crowned the world's oldest person on December 17, 2012, after the death of former title holder, a 115-year-old US woman.

He was asked about the secret to his long life on his 115th birthday.

"I don't know exactly," he said.

"Maybe it's all thanks to the sun above me. I am always looking up towards the sky, that is how I am."

He was born on April 19, 1897 the same year as former British prime minister Anthony Eden, Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels and children's writer Enid Blyton.

Mr Kimura worked at his local post office and also did some farming at his home after retiring.

He leaves seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren.

Japan has more than 50,000 people who are aged 100 and over, 2011 government data showed, reinforcing its reputation for longevity.

The world's longest living woman, 115-year-old Misao Ookawa, also comes from Japan and is now set to gain the title of the oldest person on the planet.