World's oldest man celebrates his 114th birthday - and says he plans to live to 120

• Jirouemon Kimura, from Japan, was born in 1897
• He has 5 children, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren... and 11 great-great grandchildren
  

The world's oldest man celebrated his 114th birthday today with a traditional meal - and says he plans to live until he is 120.

Japanese citizen Jirouemon Kimura had previously told local officials on his 113th birthday last year that his goal was to reach 120 and he has now confirmed 'that hasn't changed'.

He made his claim as he enjoyed the celebratory breakfast surrounded by family at his home in Kyotango in the west of the country.

Many happy returns: Jirouemon Kimura, the world's oldest man, is celebrating his 114th birthday today

They ate grilled sea bream with steamed rice and red beans as well as miso soup - a meal typical of a special occasion in the country.

He then fielded questions for 50 minutes, where he was described as alert and lucid.

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The former postal worker said he was extremely moved that he was the world's oldest man following the death of the previous record holder last week.

'It is a great honour, and words alone cannot describe my feelings,' Kimura told city officials.

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Plenty of presents: Mr Kimura kneels among floral gifts he received at his family home in Kyotango - where he also enjoyed a birthday breakfast

MILESTONES IN JIROUEMON'S JAPAN

1904: Russo-Japanese War

1910: Japan takes over the Korean peninsula and rules it for 35 years

1914: Japan joins Allied forces in WWI

1923: The Great Kanto Earthquake, one of the worst quakes in world history, destroys Tokyo and Yokohama. More than 140,000 people are killed.

1926: Hirohito becomes emperor

1931: Japan invades Manchuria, China

1940-1941: Japan becomes an ally of Germany and Italy in World War II. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor, the U.S. naval base in Hawaii

1945: The U.S. drops atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan surrenders

1964: Tokyo hosts Summer Olympics

1995: Major earthquake hits central Japan

2011: Massive earthquake and tsunami strike north-eastern Japan

'I take it as a sign from heaven and am deeply moved.'

Mr Kimura said his secret was to eat sparingly, stopping when his stomach was about 80 per cent full.

He added that he had not heard about the massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeast coast on March 11, calling it a 'horrendous event'.

Born on April 19, 1897, Mr Kimura worked at the post office for about 40 years before turning to farming after his retirement, continuing until the age of 90.

He had seven children, of whom five are still alive, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Kimura now spends most of the day in bed except when he eats three times a day.

According to the Los Angeles-based Gerontology Research Group, Mr Kimura is the world's oldest man since Walter Bruening, a retired railworker, died of natural causes in the U.S. state of Montana last week.

The world's oldest person is a U.S. woman, 114-year-old Besse Cooper, according to the group.

She was born on August 26, 1896.