Tomiko Itooka is well-known for her love of long walks, a habit her family believes has contributed to her remarkable longevity.
Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old woman from Ashiya, Japan, has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person after the passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera.
The Gerontology Research Group, which verifies the ages of individuals over 110 years old, confirmed Itooka’s birthdate and age, placing her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List—a fact later validated by Guinness World Records.
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About Tomiko Itooka
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Itooka has lived in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, since 2019. Before moving to the nursing home, she lived with her two daughters until she was 110. When told about her new status as the world’s oldest living person, Itooka humbly replied with her usual “Thank you,” a phrase she often uses with her caregivers.
Itooka marked her 116th birthday three months ago with a celebration that included flowers, a card from the city’s mayor, and a cake, although she admitted she’s not particularly fond of sweets. Despite some hearing loss, she remains able to communicate clearly with those around her.
The second of three siblings, Itooka attended an all-girls high school in Osaka, where she was active in volleyball. She married at 20 and had four children—two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she managed her husband’s textile factory office.
After her husband’s death in 1979, she lived alone in Nara Prefecture, where she maintained her passion for hiking and completed several significant pilgrimages.
Itooka is well-known for her love of long walks, a habit her family believes has contributed to her remarkable longevity. She climbed Mount Ontake, which is over 3,000 meters tall, twice, and continued hiking well into her later years.
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Remarkably, she completed the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage twice in her eighties and managed to climb the stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without help at the age of 100.
Currently, Tomiko Itooka ranks as the 24th oldest person ever documented. She has held the title of the oldest living person in Japan and Asia since December 2023, following the death of Fusa Tatsumi.
The record for the oldest person ever authenticated still belongs to Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old.