World’s oldest person dies aged 116

A Japanese woman, recognized as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 116.

Tomiko Itooka died in a nursing home in Ashiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, according to officials.

She became the world’s oldest person after Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera died in August 2024 at the age of 117.

“Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope in her long life,” Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima said in a statement.

“We are grateful for this.”

Mrs. Itooka was born in May 1908 – six years before the First World War and the same year that the Ford Model T car was introduced in the US.

He was confirmed as the oldest person in the world in September 2024 and was awarded a GWR certificate in honor of Elderly Day, which is a public holiday in Japan held annually to honor the country’s citizens.

Mrs. Itooka, who was one of three siblings, experienced world wars and epidemics as well as technological advances.

As a student, he played volleyball and climbed the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice.

In his old age, he loved bananas and Calpis, a popular Japanese soft drink, according to the mayor.

He married at the age of 20, and had two daughters and two sons, according to Guinness.

During World War II, she managed the office of her husband’s textile factory. She lived alone in Nara after her husband died in 1979.

He is survived by one son and one daughter, and five grandchildren. The funeral was held by relatives and friends, according to the authorities.

As of September, Japan counted more than 95,000 people who were 100 or older – 88% of whom were women.

Of the country’s 124 million people, nearly one in three people are 65 years of age or older.

Brazilian athlete Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born 16 days after Itooka and is 116 years old, is now believed to be the oldest person in the world.