Tomiko Itooka, who is recognised as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, died in Japan at the age of 116. Tomiko Itooka died in a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, in central Japan, on December 29.
An official named Yoshitsugu Nagata, who manages elderly affairs, shared that Tomiko Itooka was very fond of bananas and a yoghurt-flavoured Japanese drink called Calpis. Last year, after the passing of Maria Branyas, who passed away at the age of 117, Tomiko Itooka became the world’s oldest person. After the passing away of Tomiko Itooka, now the world’s oldest person is Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born just 16 days after Tomiko Itooka.
Who is Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest person?
Tomiko Itooka was born on 23 May 1908 in Osaka, Japan. She was the second of three siblings. She completed her school education at Osaka Jogakuin junior and senior high school. During her high school years she was a great volleyball player. She got married at the age of 20 to Kenji Itooka in 1928. During the time period of World War II, she managed the textile industry of her husband which was situated in South Korea.
After her husband died in 1979, she lived alone till 1989 in Nara, when she moved in with her two daughters. She has five grandchildren. She was a very active woman, as she had climbed Mount Nijo and hiked Mount Ontake twice. She did the climbing wearing sneakers instead of climbing boots.
She has also completed the Osaka 33 Kannon pilgrimage, which involved visiting over 33 temples. When she was at the age of 100, without any help, she climbed all the steps of Ashiya Shrine. In 2019, she was moved into a nursing home.
At the age of 116 she was still able to move independently. Last year on her birthday she was celebrated with a cake, flowers, and a card from the mayor. According to Nagata, a private funeral of Tomiko Itook was held with family and friends.