World's oldest person, Tomiko Itooka, dies at age 116 in Japan

Born on May 23, 1908, Itooka witnessed significant global events, including two world wars and multiple pandemics.

Tomiko Itooka, the Japanese woman recognized as the world’s oldest person by the Guinness World Records, has passed away at the age of 116.

She died on December 29 at a nursing home in Ashiya, where she had resided since 2019.

Itooka's death marks the end of an era for those who witnessed her long life, which spanned over a century of historical changes and technological innovations.

Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Japan, Itooka’s life began just four months before the launch of the Ford Model T in the United States.

Throughout her remarkable life, she lived through significant global events, including two world wars, multiple pandemics, and the rise of groundbreaking technologies that changed the world.

Itooka was one of three siblings and witnessed many historical milestones, including the transformation of Japan into an economic powerhouse in the post-war era.

Itooka was a mother of four children and a grandmother of five, leaving behind a legacy of family and resilience.

The mayor of Ashiya, Ryosuke Takashima, 27, expressed deep gratitude in a statement, saying, "Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life. We thank her for it."

As a student, Itooka was known for her active lifestyle, including playing volleyball.

In her later years, she enjoyed simple comforts like bananas and Calpis, a milky soft drink popular in Japan. These small pleasures reflected her ability to adapt and find joy throughout her life, no matter the challenges.

Itooka had been recognized as the world’s oldest person following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away at 117 in August 2024.

Itooka’s passing has once again highlighted Japan's reputation for longevity, as the country has one of the highest life expectancies in the world.

However, Japan is also grappling with a demographic crisis, as its aging population leads to escalating medical and welfare costs while the working-age population shrinks.

As of September 2024, Japan had more than 95,000 centenarians, with 88 percent of them being women.

Nearly a third of Japan’s 124 million people are aged 65 or older, presenting a growing challenge for the country’s healthcare and pension systems.