Jiroemon Kimura in Japan’s Kyoto becomes world’s oldest person

OSAKA, Dec. 18 — Guinness World Records officially recognized a 115-year- old man in the western Japanese prefecture of Kyoto as the oldest living person of the world, local press reported Tuesday.

Jiroemon Kimura, who is living in Kyotango City of the prefecture, inherited the title of the world’s oldest person after the death of 115-year-old Dina Manfredini of the United States on Monday morning, less than two weeks after obtaining the status, according to the country’s public broadcaster Nippon Hoso Kyokai ( NHK).

The spokesperson for the city said that Kimura, who was born in April 1897, will soon be world’s longest living man ever documented if he lives until Dec. 28.