TOKYO (AFP) - The world's oldest woman, Japan's Koto Okubo, died at age 115 in a nursing home on Saturday, according to officials.

Born on Dec 24, 1897, Okubo had only taken on the mantle of world's oldest woman last month, following the death of Dina Manfredini in the United States who was also 115.

Okubo's death in Kawasaki, eastern Japan, was confirmed by the city government, said the Kyodo news agency.

The Kawasaki Municipal Government said she had enjoyed spending time with her son, who lives at the same nursing home. The city did not disclose the cause of death, Kyodo said.

Jiji Press said that she had died of an illness.

The oldest living person in the world is now Jiroemon Kimura, a 115-year-old resident of central Japan's Kyoto Prefecture.