The world’s oldest Japanese woman, who was recognized by Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 116.
Tomiko Itooka passed away at a special nursing home in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, officials announced.
In August 2024, Spain’s María Brañas Morera passed away at the age of 117, making her the world’s oldest person.
Ryosuke Takashima, 27, the mayor of Ashiya City, released a statement saying, “Mr. Itooka gave us courage and hope throughout his long life.”
“We are grateful to her.”
Mr. Itooka was born in May 1908. It was six years before World War I, and the same year that the Ford Model T automobile was launched in the United States.
She was recognized as the world’s oldest person in September 2024 and was awarded an official GWR certificate on Respect for the Aged Day, a Japanese holiday celebrated annually to honor Japan’s elderly.
One of three children, Itooka has lived through world wars, pandemics, and technological advances.
As a student, she played volleyball and twice climbed Mt. Ontake, which is 3,067 meters (10,062 feet) high.
The mayor’s statement said that as she got older, she preferred bananas and Calpis, a milky soft drink popular in Japan.
According to Guinness, she married at age 20 and had two daughters and two sons.
During World War II, she managed the offices of her husband’s textile factory. Her husband died in 1979 and she lived alone in Nara.
She has one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. Officials said the funeral was attended by family and friends.
As of September, Japan had more than 95,000 people over the age of 100, 88% of whom were women.
Almost a third of the country’s 124 million people are over the age of 65.
Brazilian nun Ina Canavarro Lucas, born 16 days after Itooka, is now considered the world’s oldest person at 116 years old.
