Tomiko Itooka, who celebrated her 116th birthday on May 23, 2024, passed away in a nursing home located in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. She gained recognition as the world’s oldest person following the death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera at age 117 in August 2024. Ashiya's mayor, Ryosuke Takashima, expressed gratitude for her inspiring life, stating, "Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life."
Born in May 1908, Ms. Itooka witnessed significant historical events including two world wars, global pandemics, and remarkable technological advancements. Verified in September 2024, she received the official Guinness World Records certificate on Japan's Respect for the Aged Day, a public holiday to honor the nation’s elderly citizens.
In her youth, she was active in sports, playing volleyball and climbing Mount Ontake, which stands at 3,067 meters (10,062 feet), twice. Her later years were marked by simple pleasures, as she enjoyed bananas and Calpis, a popular milky beverage in Japan. At the age of 20, she married and raised two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she managed her husband's textile factory office. After losing her spouse in 1979, she continued living independently in Nara.
She is remembered by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A private funeral service was held for family and friends.
Japan has over 95,000 centenarians, with 88% being women, and nearly a third of its 124 million population aged 65 or older. Following Itooka’s passing, a Brazilian nun, Inah Canabarro Lucas, born just 16 days after her, is now believed to hold the title of the world's oldest living person.
