Tomiko Itooka Named World’s Oldest Person

Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old woman from Ashiya, Japan, is set to be recognized as the world's oldest person by Guinness World Records following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera from Spain. Born on May 23, 1908, Itooka has a storied history, including climbing Japan's Mount Ontake in her 70s and walking up the steps of Ashiya Shrine at 100 without a cane. She has been Japan's oldest person since December 2023 and is also the 24th oldest person ever recorded. Itooka's remarkable life includes managing a textile factory during the war and raising four children after her husband's passing in 1979. While she enjoyed an active lifestyle well into her second century, her mobility has declined since entering a nursing home in 2019, where she now requires a wheelchair. Her recognition comes at a time of reflection on longevity and the lives of supercentenarians.