Tomiko Itooka, recognized as the world’s oldest woman, has passed away at the age of 116. She died on December 29 in the city of Ashiya, located in southern Japan, where she had been living in a nursing home since 2019. The news, only now made public, was confirmed by Mayor Ryosuke Takashima, who described Itooka as “a source of courage and hope throughout her long life.”
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, the spirited centenarian lived through two world wars, pandemics, and countless technological revolutions. In 2024, she was named the “world’s oldest living person” following the death of Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who lived to the age of 117.
A sports enthusiast in her youth, particularly fond of volleyball, the supercentenarian had four children and five grandchildren. She described herself as a fan of simple pleasures, including bananas and Calpis, a traditional Japanese fermented milk beverage.
Japan, renowned for its population’s longevity, is currently grappling with a severe demographic crisis. As of September, the country had over 95,000 centenarians, 88% of whom were women. However, the aging population and shrinking workforce are placing significant strain on the nation’s healthcare and social systems. With nearly one-third of its 124 million residents aged 65 or older, the Land of the Rising Sun faces an unprecedented challenge.
