Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old Japanese woman has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person following the passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera.
Also Read: Research Links Red Meat Consumption with Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
Tomiko Itooka was born on May 23, 1908 in Osaka, Japan. This was the same year that the Eiffel Tower transmitted its first radio message and when the Wright Brothers made their public flights in Europe and America.
Raised in Osaka, Itooka grew up alongside her siblings and attended both elementary and high school in the city. At the age of 20, she married and eventually had four children.
Tomiko Itooka worked as a manager in her husband’s textile factory, which was located in South Korea during World War II. This role would have required responsibility during such a period. Tomiko Itooka’s husband passed away in 1979.
During World War II, Tomiko managed the office of her husband’s textile factory. This responsibility showcased her ability to go through one of the challenging periods in modern history.
The war had effects on her and her family, but her resilience helped them to recover in the post-war era.
Tomiko’s love for physical activities, particularly mountain climbing is one of the extraordinary aspects of her life. She scaled Japan’s 3,067-meter Mount Ontake twice. She climbed the mountain in sneakers instead of hiking boots.
Even into her 70s, Tomiko continued her passion for climbing. Her dedication to staying active extended beyond mountain climbing, she completed the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage twice in her 80s.
This involves visiting 33 Buddhist temples across the Kansai region.
At 100 years old, Tomiko Itooka continued to defy expectations by walking up the lengthy stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without the aid of a cane. This ability to remain physically active at such an advanced age is considered one of the factors contributing to her longevity.
Tomiko Itooka’s extraordinary life gained international recognition when she was named the world’s oldest living person at the age of 116.
This title came following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away at the age of 117.
The Gerontology Research Group known for validating the ages of supercentenarians confirmed her birthdate and age, placing her at the top of their World Supercentenarian Rankings List.
Also Read: The Hidden Dangers of Stealthy Saturated Fats and Sugars
Since 2019 Tomiko Itooka has resided in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture. Despite her advanced age she remains mentally sharp and communicates clearly, though she has become hard of hearing.
Every morning, Tomiko Itooka starts her day with a popular yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis. Her favorite food is bananas, which she enjoys regularly. This simple diet combined with her active lifestyle may have contributed to her longevity.
Tomiko Itooka celebrated her 116th birthday three months before being recognized as the world’s oldest person. The celebration included receiving flowers, a cake and a card from the city’s mayor.
At the age of 100, Itooka demonstrated her enduring physical strength and independence by walking up the lengthy stone steps of the Ashiya Shrine without the aid of a walking stick. This feat underscores her physical vitality and determination to remain active well into her centenarian years.
Itooka reached the milestone age of 110 in May 2018 she earned the title of supercentenarian. The Gerontology Research Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching human longevity.
Following the death of Maria Branyas Morera at the age of 117, Tomiko Itooka has been officially declared the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records.
While Tomiko Itooka is the current oldest living person, she joins a list of supercentenarians who have been recognized by Guinness World Records.
The previous titleholder, Maria Branyas Morera lived through the 1918 flu pandemic, two world wars and the Spanish Civil War.
The oldest verified person in history, Jeanne Louise Calment of France lived to be 122 years and 164 days old, passing away in 1997.
Also Read: Cholera Outbreak in Sudan has Killed At Least 22 People
