World's 'oldest person' dies in Japan at 117

Japan's Nabi Tajima, believed to be world's oldest person, passed away on Saturday. Tajima was born in the final year of the 19th century and aged 117 before she died.

According to reports, Tajima died of old age at a hospital on her native southwestern island of Kikaijima, Japan.

According to Guinness World Records, a 112-year-old Japanese man, Masazo Nonaka, was identified as the world's oldest man earlier this month. The organisation is now conducting research to certify Tajima as the oldest person after the previous record holder, Violet Brown of Jamaica, died last year at 117.

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According to official data, the number of centenarians in Japan totalled 67,824 last year, sharply up from 153 in 1963.

(With inputs from Reuters)