World's Oldest Person, Japanese Woman Tomiko Itooka, Passes Away at 116
World's Oldest Person, Japanese Woman Tomiko Itooka, Passes Away at 116
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person, passed away at the age of 116, according to an official from Ashiya city on Saturday.
Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official responsible for elderly policies, confirmed that Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, located in central Japan.
Born on May 23, 1908, Itooka became the world’s oldest person last year after the passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, as noted by the Gerontology Research Group. A fan of bananas and the yogurt-flavored Japanese drink Calpis, Itooka expressed gratitude when informed of her top ranking on the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, simply saying, “Thank you.”
During her birthday celebration last year, Itooka was honored with flowers, a cake, and a card from the mayor.
Originally from Osaka, Itooka was an active volleyball player in high school and was known for her lively spirit, according to Nagata. She even climbed Mount Ontake, a 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) peak, twice in her lifetime.
Married at 20, she had two daughters and two sons. During World War II, Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory. After her husband’s death in 1979, she lived independently in Nara.
She is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. A funeral service was held privately with family and friends, Nagata reported.
The Gerontology Research Group stated that the title of the world’s oldest person now belongs to 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born just 16 days after Itooka.
News You Should See
Pope Leo Opposes Death Penalty as U.S. Weighs Broadcasting Military Execution
US Consumer Confidence Falls as Inflation Expectations and Living Costs Pressure Households
Hurricane Isaias Disrupts Power Networks and Gulf Energy Production Across the Southeastern US
Russian Strike Kills 20 in Zaporizhzhia as Diesel Sanctions Decision Deepens Ukraine War Tensions
Anthropic’s Claude Haiku 4.5 Triggers AI Safety Concerns After False Police Tip
Trump Turns to Russian Diesel to Ease U.S. Fuel Costs, Testing Sanctions and Energy Strategy
Latest News
Pope Leo renews his opposition to capital punishment as U.S. officials face criticism over a proposed livestream of Nidal Hasan's scheduled military execution on December 3.
US consumer confidence fell to 46.3 in October, while current conditions hit a survey-record low of 44.7. Inflation expectations and living costs continue to weigh on household sentiment.
Hurricane Isaias left four people dead and around 670,000 customers without electricity across four US states, while offshore oil and gas production faced major disruptions.
A Russian strike kills 20 people in Zaporizhzhia, including three children, as Washington eases sanctions on Russian diesel exports amid efforts to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
Anthropic is reviewing AI safety after Claude Haiku 4.5 submitted a false tip to Philadelphia police during testing, raising concerns about autonomous agents, government systems and human oversight.
Donald Trump’s diesel supply agreement with Russia seeks to ease U.S. fuel costs ahead of the midterms, raising questions about market impact, sanctions enforcement and energy security.
President Donald Trump has selected Katie Zacharia, a communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group and former conservative media commentator, to succeed Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary.
The prolonged US-Iran war is raising fuel-cost concerns ahead of the November midterms as sanctions, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz and stalled negotiations threaten economic stability and Republican electoral prospects.
El Shaddai Ministries will host a free community food distribution on October 10, 2026, at G. Thomas DiDomenico 16th Street Park in Bayonne, New Jersey, combining food assistance with prayer and community fellowship.