International
World’s Oldest Person, Tomiko Itooka Dies Away at 116
- Tomiko Itooka, the world’s oldest person, passes away at 116 in Japan.
- Lived through world wars, pandemics, and technological milestones since 1908.
- Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, also 116, now believed to be the world’s oldest person.
Itooka, who had held the Guinness World Records title since September 2024, died in a nursing home. She became the world’s oldest person following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera at age 117 in August 2024.
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“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, Itooka witnessed a century of dramatic change, living through two world wars, pandemics, and technological revolutions.
She came into the world the same year the Ford Model T debuted, and during her youth, she was an active student who played volleyball and twice climbed Mount Ontake, a 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) peak.
Later in life, Itooka managed her husband’s textile factory office during World War II and eventually lived alone in Nara following his passing in 1979.
She enjoyed simple pleasures like bananas and Calpis, a popular Japanese milky soft drink, and was known for her resilience and positivity.
She was honoured with the Guinness World Records certificate on Japan’s Respect for the Aged Day, a national holiday dedicated to celebrating elderly citizens.
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Itooka is survived by a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren. Her remarkable longevity is part of a broader trend in Japan, which boasts one of the world’s longest life expectancies.
As of September, the nation had over 95,000 centenarians, with nearly 88% of them being women.
The global title of the world’s oldest person now passes to Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born just 16 days after Itooka and is also 116 years old.
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