World’s oldest person dies in Japan aged 116

Tomiko Itooka died connected December 29 astatine a attraction location successful Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, successful cardinal Japan.

Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese pistillate who was the world’s oldest idiosyncratic according to Guinness World Records, has died astatine the property of 116.

Yoshitsugu Nagata, an authoritative successful complaint of aged policies, said Itooka died connected December 29 astatine a attraction location successful Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, cardinal Japan.

Itooka, who loved bananas and a yoghurt-flavoured Japanese portion called Calpis, was calved connected May 23, 1908. She became the oldest idiosyncratic past twelvemonth pursuing the decease of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group.

When she was told she was astatine the apical of the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, she simply replied, “Thank you.”

Itooka celebrated her day past twelvemonth with flowers, a barroom and a paper from the mayor.

“Ms Itooka gave america courageousness and anticipation done her agelong life,” Ashiya’s 27-year-old politician Ryosuke Takashima said successful the statement.

“We convey her for it.”

Born successful Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball subordinate successful precocious schoolhouse and agelong had a estimation for a sprightly spirit, Nagata said. She climbed the 3,067-meter (10,062-ft) Mount Ontake twice.

She joined astatine 20, and had 2 daughters and 2 sons, according to Guinness.

Itooka managed the bureau of her husband’s textile mill during World War II. She lived unsocial successful Nara aft her hubby died successful 1979.

She is survived by 1 lad and 1 daughter, and 5 grandchildren. A ceremonial work was held with household and friends, according to Nagata.

Itooka has not lone lived done satellite wars but besides pandemics, arsenic good arsenic technological breakthroughs.

Women typically bask longevity successful Japan, but the state is facing a worsening demographic situation arsenic its expanding aged colonisation leads to soaring aesculapian and payment costs, with a shrinking labour unit to wage for it.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, the world’s oldest idiosyncratic is present 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was calved 16 days aft Itooka.