Masazo Nonaka, world's oldest living man, dies at 113 in Japan

World’s oldest man Masazo Nonaka died on Sunday at the age of 113. Nonaka was born in July 1905, according to Guinness World Records — just months before Albert Einstein published his special theory of relativity. Nonaka was the oldest man living man after the death of Spaniard Francisco Nunez Olivera last year, according to the Guinness officials.

"We feel shocked at the loss of this big figure. He was as usual yesterday and passed away without causing our family any fuss at all," his granddaughter Yuko told Kyodo News.

According to local media, Nonaka ran a hot spring inn in his hometown and in retirement enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV and eating sweets. He had six brothers and one sister, marrying in 1931 and fathering five children.

Japan homes to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have ever lived. The country has one of the world's highest life expectancies. They include Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013. The oldest verified person ever — Jeanne Louise Calment of France — died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.

As of September, Japan’s centenarian population had hit a record 69,785, with women accounting for 88.1 percent of the total, amid medical advances and greater health consciousness, according to the health ministry.