Japanese man becomes world's oldest person

TOKYO // A Japanese mayor has hailed a resident of his city for becoming the world's oldest person.

At 115 years old, Jiroemon Kimura inherited the title from an American woman who died yesterday.

Yasushi Nakayama, the mayor of Kyotango, near Kyoto, confirmed Mr Kimura's status today, 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.

Mr Kimura, a former mail employee, has 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. He lives with his son's family.

Mr Kimura's family declined to comment to reporters today out of consideration for Manfredini's family.