Tomiko Itooka died on December 29 at a care house in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, in central Japan.Tomiko Itooka, a Jap lady who used to be the sector’s oldest particular person in step with Guinness Global Information, has died on the age of 116.
Yoshitsugu Nagata, an reputable accountable for aged insurance policies, mentioned Itooka died on December 29 at a care house in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, central Japan.
Itooka, who beloved bananas and a yoghurt-flavoured Jap drink known as Calpis, used to be born on Would possibly 23, 1908. She was the oldest particular person closing 12 months following the demise of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, in step with the Gerontology Analysis Crew.
When she used to be advised she used to be on the best of the Global Supercentenarian Ratings Record, she merely answered, “Thanks.”
Itooka celebrated her birthday closing 12 months with plant life, a cake and a card from the mayor.
“Ms Itooka gave us braveness and hope via her lengthy lifestyles,” Ashiya’s 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima mentioned within the observation.
“We thank her for it.”
Born in Osaka, Itooka used to be a volleyball participant in highschool and lengthy had a name for a sprightly spirit, Nagata mentioned. She climbed the three,067-meter (10,062-ft) Mount Ontake two times.
She married at 20, and had two daughters and two sons, in step with Guinness.
Itooka controlled the place of business of her husband’s textile manufacturing facility right through Global Battle II. She lived on my own in Nara after her husband died in 1979.
She is survived through one son and one daughter, and 5 grandchildren. A funeral carrier used to be held with friends and family, in step with Nagata.
Itooka has now not handiest lived via global wars but additionally pandemics, in addition to technological breakthroughs.
Girls in most cases revel in longevity in Japan, however the nation is dealing with a worsening demographic disaster as its increasing aged inhabitants results in hovering scientific and welfare prices, with a shrinking labour pressure to pay for it.
In line with the Gerontology Analysis Crew, the sector’s oldest particular person is now 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who used to be born 16 days after Itooka.
