Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old woman from Japan, has been officially recognized as the world’s oldest living person by Guinness World Records. Born on May 23, 1908, Tomiko’s remarkable longevity has been validated by the Gerontology Research Group. She achieved this milestone following the recent passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera.
Tomiko resides in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, where she has lived since 2019. Before moving to the nursing home, she lived with her two daughters until the age of 110. Despite her advanced age, Tomiko remains communicative, although she is hard of hearing. Her caregivers describe her as grateful and appreciative, often expressing thanks for their support.
Tomiko celebrated her 116th birthday three months ago with flowers, a cake, and a card from the city’s mayor. Interestingly, she confessed to disliking the cake but enjoyed the celebration nonetheless. Her favorite food is bananas, and she starts each day with a drink of Calpis, a milky, acidic beverage popular in Japan.
Born and raised in Osaka, Tomiko was the second of three siblings. She attended an all-girls high school where she was an avid volleyball player. At the age of 20, she married and had four children—two daughters and two sons. During World War II, she managed the office of her husband’s textile factory.
Tomiko’s life has been filled with adventure and activity. In her eighties, she completed the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage twice, a journey to 33 Buddhist temples in the Kansai region. Even at the age of 100, she could climb the stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without a walking stick. Her family attributes her longevity to these long hikes and her active lifestyle.
Tomiko is now the 24th-oldest person in recorded history and has been the oldest living person in Japan since December 2023. Her story is a testament to the resilience and vitality that can come with age, inspiring many around the world.