Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman recognized as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, has passed away at the age of 116. She died at a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, according to local officials.
Ms. Itooka became the world’s oldest person in August 2024 following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera at the age of 117. “Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life,” Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor, Ryosuke Takashima, said in a statement. “We thank her for it.”
Born in May 1908, Ms. Itooka lived through monumental events, including both world wars and significant technological advancements. She came into the world six years before World War I and in the same year the Ford Model T was introduced.
In September 2024, Ms. Itooka was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person. She was presented with her certificate on Respect for the Aged Day, a Japanese public holiday honoring the elderly.
As a student, Ms. Itooka was active, playing volleyball and climbing Japan’s 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice. In her later years, she enjoyed simple pleasures like eating bananas and drinking Calpis, a popular milky beverage in Japan.
Ms. Itooka married at 20 and had two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she managed the office of her husband’s textile factory. After her husband’s passing in 1979, she lived independently in Nara for many years.
She is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A private funeral service was held with family and close friends.
Japan, known for its longevity, recorded over 95,000 centenarians in September 2024, with 88% being women. Of the nation’s 124 million people, nearly a third are aged 65 or older.
Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, born just 16 days after Ms. Itooka, is now believed to be the world’s oldest living person at age 116.