Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, the oldest person in the world, passes away at the age of 116

The oldest person in the world, Tomiko Itooka, died in Japan at the age of 116.

At the age of 116, Tomiko Itooka, who was officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records as the oldest person in the world, passed away. According to local officials, she died at a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

“Itooka’s long life gave us hope and courage.” In a statement, Ryosuke Takashima, the 27-year-old mayor of Ashiya, stated, “We thank her for it.”

Ms. Itooka was born in May 1908 and experienced a number of significant historical and technological events, including the introduction of the Ford Model T and World War One. After Maria Branyas Morera of Spain passed away in September 2024 at the age of 117, she became the oldest person in the world.

In 2024, during Japan’s annual Respect for the Aged Day celebration, which honors senior citizens, Ms. Itooka received an official Guinness World Records certificate to commemorate her recognition.

Ms. Itooka had an active life, climbing Mount Ontake twice and playing volleyball well in school. Later in life, she relished small pleasures like Calpis, a milky Japanese soft drink, and bananas.

She handled the office of her husband’s textile industry during World War Two, was married at the age of 20, and had four kids. She lived alone in Nara following the death of her husband in 1979. Five grandchildren and two children survive her.

As of September 2024, Japan, a country renowned for its longevity, has over 95,000 centenarians, of which 88% were women.
According to current estimates, Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun who was born 16 days after Ms. Itooka, is 116 years old and holds the title of oldest person in the world.