"Mr Tanabe was a symbol of Miyakonojo... and cheered up many residents," making the town a byword for longevity, said Mayor Makoto Nagamine.
When Tanabe turned 113 on September 18, he said the secret to his longevity was a big appetite but a strict diet, together with avoiding alcohol, cigarettes and snacks.
Tanabe, who lived with a son and daughter-in-law, had eight children, 25 grandchildren, 53 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Japan has one of the world´s highest life expectancy rates, attributed in part to a diet traditionally rich in fish, rice and vegetables.
The world´s oldest known person is 115-year-old Gertrude Baines who lives in Los Angeles.
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