TOKYO (AP) — Tomiko Itooka, the Japanese woman recognized as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records, passed away, as confirmed by a city official in Ashiya on Saturday. She was 116 years old.
Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official responsible for elderly policies, announced that Itooka peacefully passed away on December 29 at a care facility in Ashiya, located in Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan.
Born on May 23, 1908, Itooka had a fondness for bananas and a popular Japanese yogurt drink known as Calpis. She attained the title of the oldest person in the world last year after the passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, as reported by the Gerontology Research Group.
Upon learning of her achievement as the top-ranked individual in the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, Itooka humbly expressed her gratitude, simply stating, “Thank you.”
During her birthday celebration last year, Itooka was greeted with flowers, a cake, and a heartfelt card from the mayor.
Originally from Osaka, Itooka excelled as a volleyball player in high school and was well-known for her adventurous spirit, according to Nagata. Despite her age, she undertook the challenging ascent of Mount Ontake, a peak standing at 3,067 meters (10,062 feet) tall, on two separate occasions.
Itooka entered marriage at the age of 20 and was blessed with two daughters and two sons, as detailed by Guinness World Records. During World War II, she managed the administrative duties within her husband’s textile factory. Following her husband’s passing in 1979, she resided independently in Nara.
She is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A private funeral service was conducted in the presence of family and friends, as shared by Nagata.
According to the Gerontology Research Group, the current oldest person in the world is 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born just 16 days subsequent to Itooka.
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