Japanese man, 115, becomes world's oldest person: City mayor
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File photo of Mr Jiroemon Kimura. A Japanese mayor has hailed a resident of his city for becoming the world's oldest person. At 115 years old, Mr Jiroemon Kimura inherited the title from an American woman who died on Monday. -- PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AP) - A Japanese mayor has hailed a resident of his city for becoming the world's oldest person.
At 115 years old, Mr Jiroemon Kimura inherited the title from an American woman who died on Monday.
Mr Yasushi Nakayama, the mayor of Kyotango, near Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, confirmed Mr Kimura's status on Tuesday, calling him "the pride of our town".
Mr Kimura, born 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.
