Following the death of Maria Branyas-Morella, aged 117, Tomiko Itooka (born 23 May 1908), aged 116, is currently the oldest woman and living person in the world.
Her age has been verified by the Gerontology Research Group (chaired by Robert D. Young) and she has been confirmed to be alive by a representative of the Guinness World Records.
Tomiko lives in a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
She has lived there since 2019, but prior to that she lived at home with her two daughters until she turned 110.
Tomiko celebrated her 116th birthday three months ago and received flowers, a cake (which she confesses she hates!) and a card from the mayor.
Her caregivers said that despite her hearing loss, she was able to communicate clearly and regularly expressed gratitude to them.
Her favorite food is bananas, and she drinks Calpis (a lactic acid drink) every morning.
Tomiko, 94 years old
Tomiko was born and raised in Osaka as the second of three children. After graduating from elementary school, she went on to a girls' high school where she was passionate about volleyball.
She married at age 20 and had four children (two daughters and two sons) and now has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
During World War II, Tomiko managed the affairs of her husband's textile factory.
100 years old
After her husband passed away in 1979, she continued to live alone in Nara Prefecture and enjoyed frequenting Mount Nijo.
She has conquered the 3,000-meter Mount Ontake twice.
Tomiko completed the Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage (a tour of 33 Buddhist temples in the Kansai region) twice in her 80s, and at age 100 she could still climb the stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without the use of a walking stick.
Her family believes these long-distance hikes are the secret to her longevity.
Age 113
Tomiko is currently the 24th oldest person in history.
She is the oldest living person in Japan (and all of Asia) since the death of 116-year-old Tatsumi Fusa in December 2023.
The oldest known person to date is Jeanne Calment of France, who lived to be 122 years and 164 days.
Photo courtesy of Gerontology Research Group
