The oldest living person, a Japanese man named Jiroemon Kimura, died early this morning, Japanese media said.

He was admitted to hospital for pneumonia in May before passing away, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported.

Kimura was crowned the world's oldest person on December 17, 2012, after the former title holder, a 115-year-old woman from Iowa in the U.S. died, the Guinness World Records said.

When asked on his 115th birthday the secret to his long life, he said he was always looking upwards, to the sun and sky.

Kimura leaves seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren, local media said.