International

The world’s oldest man, Sakari Momoi, who cited healthy eating and a good night’s sleep as the secrets to a very long life, has died aged 112, Japanese media said.

Momoi, whose was born in Fukushima on 5 February 1903, was not alone in Japan in enjoying remarkable longevity: his successor is a compatriot, Yasutaro Koide, who was born just over a month later.

Momoi was born the year the teddy bear was introduced and the Wright brothers made their first powered flight. He was 42 when the second world war ended.

Local media said Momoi died at a care home in Tokyo where he had lived for many years.

“We heard from his family ... that his health worsened one or two weeks ago,” a local official said.

Momoi fell short of his longevity goal, revealed when he was awarded a plaque by Guinness World Records to mark his status as the world’s oldest man in August 2014.