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

Nonaka was awarded the title by Guinness in April last year

Masazo Nonaka of Japan receives a Guinness World Records certificate naming him the world's oldest man on April 10, 2018. Kyodo via Reuters

The world's oldest man Masazo Nonaka, who was born two years after the Wright brothers launched humanity's first powered flight, died on Sunday aged 113, Japanese media said.

Nonaka was born in July 1905, according to Guinness World Records – months before Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity.

Guinness officially recognised Nonaka as the oldest living man last year after the death of Spaniard Francisco Nunez Olivera, also at the age of 113.

"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.

Nonaka had six brothers and one sister, marrying in 1931 and fathering five children.

He ran a hot spring inn in his hometown and in retirement enjoyed watching sumo wrestling on TV and eating sweets, according to local media.

Japan has one of the world's highest life expectancies and was home to several people recognised as among the oldest humans to have lived.

They include Jiroemon Kimura, the longest-living man on record, who died soon after his 116th birthday in June 2013.

The oldest verified person – Jeanne Louise Calment of France – died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.