Overview
Jiroemon Kimura (19 April 1897 – 12 June 2013) was a Japanese supercentenarian noted for being the oldest verified man in recorded history. Born in what is now part of Kyotango in Kyoto Prefecture, Kimura lived through four Japanese eras—Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei—and witnessed profound social and technological change during his lifetime.
Life and longevity
Kimura spent a long life in rural Japan and attributed his longevity to modest habits, regular activity and close family ties. Over the years he combined work and farming with family responsibilities, and was surrounded in later life by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. On 28 December 2012 he surpassed the previously held male longevity record of Christian Mortensen, and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest man in history.
Records and recognition
When Kimura died on 12 June 2013 he was 116 years and 54 days old. His age was validated by international longevity researchers and celebrated in Japan and abroad as an example of extreme human longevity. He is frequently cited in demographic studies that examine centenarian populations, lifestyle factors and the biological limits of human lifespan.
Notable facts
- Born 1897; died 2013 at age 116 years, 54 days.
- Recognized as the oldest verified man in history by official record-keeping organizations.
- His life spanned major historical eras and events in modern Japan.
Kimura's longevity drew attention to the social and cultural context of ageing in Japan, a country with one of the world's highest proportions of elderly citizens. His example is often used to illustrate both the human stories behind longevity records and ongoing scientific interest in the factors that support long life.