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Guinness World Records’ Oldest Man Dies at 116

By Cheri Cheng | Update Date: Jun 12, 2013 01:30 PM EDT

Most people will never live in three different centuries, but for Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, it was a feat that he accomplished. Kimura, who died today at the age of 116 at 2:08 AM, was the oldest man ever in history recorded by the Guinness World Records.

According to the local government in Kyotang, located in western Japan, Kimura had passed away due to natural causes at a local hospital. He was admitted to the hospital back on May 11 when he had pneumonia. Although he was doing fine at the hospital, his blood sugar level and urine production were slowly declining over the past few days. He then succumbed to the natural causes of old age. Kimura was recognized as the oldest man alive on Dec. 28. 2012 when he reached 115 years and 253 days old. Guinness reported that Kimura was the third man to ever reach 115 years old and he was one of four male supercentenarians alive, people who surpass the age of 110.

Kimura was born in April 19, 1897 in Kinjiro Miyake in Kamiukawa, which is known to be a fishing and farming village. At the time, the life expectancy in Japan was just 44-years-old due to deadly diseases and infections. During the time of his birth and childhood, Kimura managed to avoid catching tuberculosis and pneumonia.

"He has an amazingly strong will to live," nephew, Tamotsu Miyake, 80, had said in an interview late last year according to Bloomberg. "He is strongly confident that he lives right and well."

Kimura was one of the 20 Japanese people on a list of 56 people throughout the world that surpassed the age of 110. All 56 seniors' ages were verified. The title of the oldest living person now goes to Misao Okawa, who is also from Japan. Okawa was born on March 5, 1898, according to the Gerontology Research Group based in Los Angeles, CA.

The life expectancy for Japan is currently at 83 years old. Based on recent data, experts have estimated that for Japanese women, the life expectancy might increase over 90-years-old by 2050. Based on the information provided from the Japan's health ministry, which states that Japan has the world's highest numbers of elderly people, the rate of centenarians from Japan has increased by 7.6 percent. There are roughly 40 centenarians for every 100,000 citizens living in Japan.

According to the Associated Press who cited Kyotango officials, Kimura's funeral is set for Friday. 

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