Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was once the world’s oldest person, passed away at the age of 116 on December 29, 2024, at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Known for her joyful spirit and love for bananas and a Japanese drink called Calpis, Tomiko was born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka.
In 2024, Guinness World Records officially recognized Tomiko as the oldest living person after the passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas. When she learned she held this title, she simply said, “Thank you.”
Tomiko was active and vibrant throughout her life. She played volleyball in high school and even climbed the 3,000-meter Mount Ontake twice. She married at 20 and had four children—two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she helped manage her husband’s textile factory. After her husband’s passing in 1979, she lived independently in Nara.
Tomiko Itooka | Gerontology Research Group
Tomiko is survived by one son, one daughter, and five grandchildren. Her family held a heartfelt funeral to honor her long life.
Now, the title of the world’s oldest person goes to 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, born just 16 days after Tomiko.
