Tomiko Itooka, the Japanese woman recognized as the world’s oldest person, has passed away at the age of 116.
She died in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, officials confirmed.
Itooka claimed the title of the world’s oldest person in August 2024 after the passing of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera at 117.
Itooka’s Legacy
Born in May 1908—the same year the Ford Model T was introduced—Itooka lived through two world wars, multiple pandemics, and incredible technological advances.
In her youth, she played volleyball and even climbed Mount Ontake twice.
Later, she helped manage her husband’s textile business during World War II and lived independently after he died in 1979.
Who is The World’s Oldest Person Now?
Japan remains a global leader in longevity, with over 95,000 centenarians—88% of them women.
Following Itooka’s passing, Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas is believed to be the world’s oldest living person at the age of 116.
