A Japanese woman, Tomiko Itooka, who was globally recognized as the oldest person in the world, has passed away at the age of 116.
The city of Ashiya, where she resided, officially announced her death on Saturday.
The mayor of the southern city, Ryosuke Takashima, stated that Itooka, a mother of four and grandmother of five, passed away on December 29 at the nursing home where she had lived since 2019.
The late Ms. Itooka was born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, a prominent commercial center near Ashiya, just four months prior to the introduction of the Ford Model T in the United States.
She was acknowledged as the oldest living person in the world following the passing of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who died at the age of 117 in August 2024.
The statement further noted that Itooka, one of three siblings, experienced numerous world wars, pandemics, and significant technological advancements throughout her lifetime.
According to the mayor’s announcement, during her later years, she relished bananas and Calpis, a popular milky soft drink in Japan.
While women in Japan generally enjoy extended lifespans, the nation is confronting a severe demographic crisis, as the increasing elderly population results in escalating medical and welfare expenses, coupled with a dwindling labor force to support these costs.
