Tomiko Itooka, the world’s oldest person from Japan, passed away at the age of 116, as announced by the city of Ashiya on Saturday.
Itooka, who had four children and five grandchildren, died on December 29 at a nursing home where she had lived since 2019.
The mayor of Ashiya confirmed her passing in a statement.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, close to Ashiya, she entered the world four months before the Ford Model T debuted in the United States.
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Itooka was recognized as the world’s oldest person following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera at age 117 in August 2024.
“Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life,” said Ryosuke Takashima, Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor. “We thank her for it.”
Throughout her lifetime, Itooka witnessed world wars, pandemics, and major technological advancements. In her younger years, she enjoyed playing volleyball.
In her later years, she was fond of bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan, according to the mayor’s statement.
While women in Japan typically live longer, the country is grappling with a demographic crisis, with an aging population that is driving up healthcare and welfare costs, coupled with a shrinking workforce.
As of September, Japan had more than 95,000 centenarians, with 88% of them being women. Nearly a third of Japan’s 124 million citizens are 65 or older.
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