Guinness World Records can today confirm that Japan’s Sakari Momoi is the world’s oldest livingman at 111 years, and, as of today, 196 days old.

Mr. Momoi took the title after Mr. Alexander Imich (NY, United States) passed away on 8 June 2014 aged 111 years 124 days.

Erika Ogawa, VP Japan of Guinness World Records, handed Mr Momoi his official certificate and celebrated his health and longevity during a presentation yesterday.

Born on 5 February 1903 in Soma (now, Minami Soma), Fukushima, only a day after Mr. Alexander Imich, Mr. Momoi became a teacher and later worked as the principal of high schools in Fukushima and Saitama prefecture.

In 1928, he married (the late) Ms. Tamiko and had 5 children. His record age was verified using his birth certificate and several other official documents.

Oldest Man

Mr. Momoi with a picture he drew recently

Mr. Momoi lives in the hospital in Tokyo. He likes reading, especially Chinese poetry. He also enjoyed traveling around Japan with his wife before she passed away. His family is very pleased with the record, but requesting for the peaceful atmosphere for their father.

The oldest living woman – and currently the oldest living person – is Misao Okawa (Japan), who was born on 5 March 1898 in Osaka, Japan, and is 116 years, 168 days old.

The oldest person ever to have lived is Jeanne Calment (France), who lived to 122 years and 164 days, and the oldest man ever is Jiroemon Kimura (Japan), who was born on 19 April 1897 and passed away aged 116 years 54 days on 12 June 2013.

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Editor-in-Chief Craig Glenday says: "To put Mr Momoi’s age into perspective, he was born before the Wright brothers made their first powered flight, before Henry Ford produced his first car, and before the birth of author George Orwell and jazz legends Bix Beiderbeck and Fats Waller"

"Back in 1903, the world had only just staged the second ever modern Olympic Games and Albert Einstein was yet to publish his theory of Special Relativity. It’s difficult to imagine that a contemporary of this era is still flourishing to this day, so it’s a particularly special honour to acknowledge Mr Momoi and his remarkable longevity."