Japanese man becomes world's oldest at 115yrs

Jiroemon Kimura poses with Guinness World Records editor-in-chief Craig Glenday after becoming the world's oldest person (AP/Kyotango City).

A Japanese mayor has hailed a resident of his city for becoming the world's oldest person.


At 115 years old, Jiroemon Kimura inherited the title from an American woman who died on Monday.

Yasushi Nakayama, the mayor of Kyotango, near Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, confirmed Mr Kimura's status, calling him "the pride of our town".

Mr Kimura, who was born on April 19 1897, is 15 days younger than his predecessor, Dina Manfredini, who died in Iowa less than two weeks after inheriting the title as the world's oldest living person.

Mr Kimura, a former postal employee, has 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He lives with his son's family.

His family declined to comment to reporters out of consideration for Ms Manfredini's relatives.