World’s oldest man, a Saitama resident, dies at 112

Sakari Momoi, a retired teacher who lived in Saitama city north of Tokyo, passed away due to chronic kidney failure Sunday, Kyodo News cited the municipal office as saying.

Guinness World Records, the authority in record breaking achievement, is saddened to learn of the passing of Sakari Momoi today (July 7th) who held the title of Oldest living man. Our thoughts and condolences are with Mr. Momoi’s friends and family.

Born in Fukushima, Mr Momoi first worked as a teacher and later become a principal in high schools across his home town as well as neighbouring Saitama.

“I want to live two more years”, he said at the time.

The late Momoi was a cultured man of many interests who enjoyed reading, traveling with his wife, calligraphy and Chinese poetry.

Guinness has not announced who is now the world’s oldest man, although it may well be 112-year-old Japanese Yasutaro Koide who was born a month after Mr Momoi.

Born in February 1903 in Fukushima, Momoi’s birth took place at the same year the teddy bear was introduced.

The world’s ex- oldest woman, Misao Okawa, lived to the age of 117 and was also Japanese.

The research group said he was born on March 13, 1903.

His death has come a day after the world’s oldest living person celebrated her 116th birthday.

Japan is renowned for the longevity of its people and is said to have around 54,000 centenarians.

Susannah Mushatt Jones of Brooklyn, New York was recognised as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records yesterday.