Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The "patriarch of mankind" Sakari Momoi died at 112 years of age in the nursing home in Tokyo where he had been living for a few years. He was the oldest man in the world, born a few months before the first experimental flight of the Wright brothers. He died from kidney failure according to the official confirmation of his death which was announced by a public officer from Saitama, where Momoi lived most of his life.
The patriarch was born February 5, 1903 in Fukushima. He was a teacher by profession and went on to become the headmaster of some of the largest high schools in Fukushima and neighboring Saitama. According to the family, he loved to read - especially Chinese poetry - and travel around Japan with his wife.
Last year he received a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records and, on that occasion, he had wanted to put on his best suit before meeting the media (see photo). To a journalist who asked him about his "future projects" had replied: "I do not plan on going anywhere just yet. I want to live for at least two more years. "
The crown of the world's oldest man now goes to another Japanese, Yasutaro Koide, a month younger than Momoi. On the other side of the Pacific, however, Mrs. Susannah Mushatt Jones yesterday celebrated her116 birthday. The oldest woman in the world celebrated with her 100 direct heirs at her side.