TOKYO - Japan`s oldest person Ura Koyama, born on August 30, 1890, died of pneumonia on Tuesday at the age of 114 at a hospital in the western province of Fukuoka, news reports said, quoting her family.
Koyama, who became the country`s oldest person after Mitoyo Kawate died at 114 on November 2003, had become bed-ridden in the last few years and had suffered pneumonia since January, the reports said.
Koyama had three children, four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, Jiji Press said.
Yone Minagawa, 112, who also lives in Fukuoka, is now the oldest person in Japan, Kyodo News said.
Despite the stresses of modern living, Japan is famous for the longevity of its people attributed in part to a healthy traditional diet.
Japanese women`s average life expectancy is 85.33 years while men have an average lifespan of 78.36 years, according to the latest government survey.
04/05/2005 13:37 GMT