World's Oldest Person Dies: Jiroemon Kimura Moves on After 116 Years in Japan (VIDEO)
The Japanese man who was credited as being the oldest person ever by Guinness World Records passed away on Wednesday.
Jiroemon Kimura, a 116-year-old former post office worker, was born on April 19, 1897, and is believed to be the last known man who has lived across three different centuries. Overall there are 12 people currently recorded in the world who have lived over the three centuries, however, Kimura was the only male among them and the oldest.
Local reports stated that Kimura was being cared for by grandson's widow and died of natural causes in Kyoto prefecture.
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After leaving his position as a postman Kimura took up farming to keep him active through his retirement and was seen regularly in the field until he was 90 years of age.
Officials with the Guinness World Records had certified Kimura as the oldest living man in the world as well as the world's oldest living person.
On his 115th birthday, Kimura told reporters he attributed his longevity to getting out in the sunlight.
"I am always looking up towards the sky. That is how I am," Kimura said then.
According to local media, Kimura ate a three-meal-a-day diet of rice, pumpkins and sweet potatoes.
For his birthday in April of this year Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued a video message to Kimura, saying that it "is absolutely amazing" that he holds both records and that he was an inspiration to people around the world.
Kimura's records made him quite the celebrity in the country, and especially the region where he lived. The mayor of Kyotango City in western Japan where he lived also visited him to help celebrate his 116th birthday.
According to reports, Kimura leaves behind seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.
