A Japanese woman, Tomiko Itooka, celebrated worldwide as the oldest living person, has passed away at the age of 116.
According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Itooka died on December 29 at a retirement home in Ashiya, located in the southern Hyogo prefecture.
The city’s mayor, Ryosuke Takashima, confirmed her death in a statement, noting that she had been living at the nursing home since 2019.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, not far from Ashiya, Itooka lived through over a century of remarkable events, spanning two world wars, global pandemics, and extraordinary technological transformations.
Her birth occurred mere months before the Ford Model T revolutionized the automobile industry in the United States.
Itooka assumed the title of the world’s oldest person in August 2024, following the passing of Spain’s María Branyas Morera at the age of 117.
“Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life. We thank her for it,” said Mayor Takashima.
The Guinness World Records also highlighted her remarkable longevity, which inspired many worldwide.
The statement from the mayor revealed that Itooka, one of three siblings, found joy in simple pleasures during her later years, such as eating bananas and savoring Calpis, a popular milky beverage in Japan.
Japan is known for its significant number of centenarians, with over 95,000 people aged 100 or older as of September, 88% of whom are women.
Despite this longevity, the nation faces a pressing demographic crisis as its aging population strains medical and welfare systems while a declining workforce struggles to shoulder the growing costs.
Jeanne Louise Calment of France remains the oldest verified person in history, living to the age of 122 years and 164 days before her death in 1997.
