Tomiko Itooka, who held the Guinness World Records title for the world’s oldest living person, died on December 29, 2024, at a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. She was 116.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Itooka became the oldest living person in August 2024 following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who was 117.
The Japanese woman passed away peacefully at the care facility where she had lived since 2019
Itooka witnessed over a century of global change, from world wars to technological revolutions. As a student, she was an avid volleyball player.
She married at 20 and later managed her husband's textile factory office during World War II while raising four children.
After her husband died in 1979, she lived independently in Nara Prefecture and enjoyed mountain climbing, summiting Mount Ontake twice.
In her later years, Itooka delighted in simple pleasures. According to the mayor’s statement, she enjoyed bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan .
Tributes and a Demographic Challenge
Ashiya Mayor Ryosuke Takashima, 27, paid tribute to her legacy. “Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life,” he said. “We thank her for it” .
However, Itooka’s death highlights Japan’s deepening demographic crisis. As of September 2024, Japan had over 95,000 centenarians, with women making up 88% of them.
Nearly a third of the country’s population is aged 65 or older, placing growing strain on healthcare and welfare systems while a shrinking workforce faces mounting financial pressure.
WhatsApp Channel
Telegram Channel
