A Japanese woman, recognised as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, has died aged 116.
Tomiko Itooka, who had four children and five grandchildren, died on December 29 at a nursing home in Ashiya, where she had resided since 2019, according to the city’s mayor.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, a bustling commercial hub near Ashiya, Itooka came into the world four months before the launch of the Ford Model T in the United States.
She was recognized as the oldest living person following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away in August 2024 at the age of 117.
“Ms. Itooka inspired us with courage and hope through her remarkable life,” said Ryosuke Takashima, Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor, in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for her enduring legacy.”
Itooka, one of three siblings, witnessed world wars, pandemics, and technological revolutions throughout her lifetime. As a young woman, she was an avid volleyball player.
In her later years, Itooka delighted in simple pleasures such as bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan, according to the mayor.
While Japan is known for its high life expectancy, the country is grappling with a growing demographic crisis. The elderly population continues to expand, placing increasing strain on healthcare and welfare systems, while a shrinking workforce faces mounting financial pressure.
As of September 2024, Japan had over 95,000 centenarians, with 88 percent of them being women. Nearly a third of the country’s 124 million residents are aged 65 or older.
AFP
