Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, has become the world’s oldest living person at the age of 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records. Her age and birthdate, May 23, 1908, were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates the details of people thought to be 110 or older, and placed her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List.
Itooka resides in a nursing home in Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirmed her birthdate. She assumed the title of the world’s oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s passing on Tuesday. Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday. When informed about her newfound title, she humbly responded with “Thank you,” a phrase she often expresses to the caretakers at her home.
Just three months ago, Itooka celebrated her birthday with flowers, a cake, and a card from the mayor. She starts each morning with a popular yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis and enjoys bananas, her favorite food. Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player during her high school years. She married at 20 and went on to have two daughters and two sons.
During World War II, Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory. After her husband passed away in 1979, she lived alone in Nara before eventually moving into the nursing home. Remarkably, she climbed the 10,062-foot Mount Ontake twice and continued to enjoy long hikes even after turning 100.
