Meet Masazo Nonaka from Japan, who has been officially given Masazo Nonaka the title of 'Oldest person living' (male) by Guinness World Records. Nonaka was born into a large family on July 25, 1950, in Ashoro, on Japan's northern main island of Hokkaido. Erika Ogawa, VP Japan for Guinness World Records presented the award to Nonaka at his home in Hokkaido on Tuesday.

His family has run a hot spring inn for four generations. Nonaka is currently 112 years and 4 months old. Masazo takes the title after Francisco Nuñez Olivera from Spain who passed away in January aged 113.

The 105-year-old inn is currently run by his granddaughter Yuko. He regularly soaks in the springs and also enjoys having sweets, especially cakes. Nonaka also spends his time watching TV - sumo wrestling in particular and reading newspapers. He likes to spend time with his family and their two cats called Kuro and Haru. While Nonaka believes his longevity is due to his likings to sweets and the springs, his daughter thinks it is because he lives life stressless way.

He has seven brothers and one sister who live nearby in Ashoro, Hokkaido. He married Hatsuno in 1931 and have five children with her. Honaka has outlived his siblings and wife.

Japan is known for the long ages to which people live. The country has been home to several oldest title holders, including Jiroemon Kimura, who died in June 2013 at the age of 116. Japan has around 68,000 people aged 100 or older in the country, the government said last year.

The record holder for the Oldest person ever (male) was also Japanese. Jiroemon Kimura was born on April 19, 1897, and died aged 116 years on June 12, 2013, four years older than Masazo.

Guinness World Records is currently investigating title holders for the Oldest person living (female), as no one has taken this title since the death of 117-year-old Violet Brown from Jamaica in July 2017.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 10, 2018 09:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).