The world's oldest man died at age 112 on Tuesday. Born March 13, 1903, Yasutaro Koide of Japan missed only two months to make it to his 113th birthday.
Koide was born in the historical period of the Wright brother's first flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The Russo-Japanese War also started in that era. He received the Guinness Book of World Records recognition last August.
Koide revealed that his secret to long life was not smoking and drinking. However, he received series of treatments at a Nagoya hospital due to heart problems, according to the Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare. Five months after receiving the Guinness recognition, the said treatments ended when the oldest male centenarian succumbed to chronic heart problems, according to USA Today.
Erika Ogawa, vice president of Guinness World Records Japan said, "I felt very honored that I have had a chance to meet Mr. Yasutaro Koide last summer, surrounded by his warm family and relatives." She further added, "The stories of his adolescent years encouraged all of us who were there. I would like to express my sorrow and condolences to him and his family".
Guinness said that Koide moved from Tsuruga Japan, where he was born to Nagoya to be with his daughter five years ago. He still managed to attend a day care center last summer.
The new record holder of the oldest man alive is still in verification and will be revealed once the process is completed. Susannah Muhatt Jones, 116 of Brooklyn New York holds the Guinness record for being the oldest woman alive. She has also been recognized as the only person born on 1800's still living today. Jeanne Calment of France on the other hand holds the oldest person record who died at the age of 122 years and 164 days in 1997, according to CNN.
