The news came less than two weeks after he was officially recognised by Guinness World Records. Watanabe, who had five children, said the secret to longevity was to "not get angry and keep a smile on your face". He admitted a penchant for sweets such as custard pudding and ice cream.
The oldest man in Japan is now Issaku Tomoe, who is 110 years old, according to Jiji Press, although it was not clear if Tomoe holds the title globally.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2020