World's oldest person Tomiko Itooka dies aged 116

Tomiko Itooka, a remarkable woman from Japan, has sadly passed away at the age of 116. She was recognized as the oldest person in the world by Guinness World Records. Tomiko celebrated her 116th birthday on May 23, 2024, with a large white cake adorned with fruit and a lovely bouquet of flowers. Behind her, gold helium balloons shaped like the number 116 floated in the air. According to officials, she died in a nursing home located in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. Tomiko became the world's oldest person after the passing of Maria Branyas Morera from Spain, who died at the age of 117 in August 2024. The mayor of Ashiya, Ryosuke Takashima, expressed his gratitude, stating, 'Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life. We thank her for it. ' Tomiko was born in May 1908, a significant year that was six years before World War One began and the same year the Ford Model T car was introduced in the United States. She was officially recognized as the oldest person in the world in September 2024 and received a special certificate on Respect for the Aged Day, a public holiday in Japan dedicated to honoring elderly citizens. Throughout her long life, Tomiko experienced many historical events, including world wars and pandemics, as well as remarkable technological advancements. As a young girl, she enjoyed playing volleyball and even climbed the impressive Mount Ontake, which stands at 3,067 meters (10,062 feet), twice. In her later years, she had a fondness for bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan, as mentioned by the mayor. Tomiko married at the age of 20 and had two daughters and two sons. During World War Two, she managed her husband's textile factory. After her husband passed away in 1979, she lived alone in Nara. She is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held for her, attended by family and friends. As of September, Japan had over 95,000 centenarians, with 88% of them being women. Out of Japan's 124 million population, nearly a third are aged 65 or older. Following Tomiko's passing, a Brazilian nun named Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born just 16 days after Tomiko and is also 116 years old, is now believed to be the oldest living person in the world.