OSAKA -The Japanese man listed as the world's oldest person died early Wednesday morning at the age of 116 in Kyoto prefecture, western Japan, city officials said.

Jiroemon Kimura, who was born in 1897, died of natural causes at the municipal hospital in his hometown, Kyotango city, at 2:08 am local time on Wednesday. He had suffered pneumonia and hospitalized since May, a spokesperson said.

Kyotango city Mayor Yasushi Nakamura said in a statement that Kimura has been and "will be" the treasure of the city, expressing deep sorrow over his death.

Kimura was first recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living person on Dec 17, 2012, after the former title holder, a 115-year-old woman from Iowa died.

More than a week later he became the oldest man ever verified to have lived by reaching the age of 115 years and 253 days. Kimura celebrated his 116th birthday in April this year.

He had seven children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grand children and 15 great-great grandchildren, the spokesperson said, adding that Kimura's funeral will take place on Friday.

The oldest living person in the world now is 115-year-old Misao Okawa, living in Japan's Osaka city.

Jiroemon Kimura holds his great-great-grandchild in Kyotango, western Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo, on April 19, 2012. The world's oldest person, 116-year-old Japanese man Kimura, died on June 12, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]