Tomiko Itooka credited her long life to a diet featuring bananas and Calpis, a Japanese yogurt-like beverage.
Tomiko Itooka, the world’s oldest person, passed away at the age of 116. Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, a Brazilian nun, now holds the title, being only 16 days younger than Itooka.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Japan, Itooka lived through two world wars and witnessed over a century of global events. A former high school volleyball player, she later managed her husband’s textile company during World War II. Following her husband’s death in 1979, she enjoyed an independent life in Nara Prefecture, pursuing hobbies such as hiking, even making two ascents of Mount Ontake.
Guinness World Records officially recognized Itooka as the world’s oldest living person in August 2024, succeeding 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Upon learning of her ranking atop the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, her response was a simple, “Thank you.”
Itooka’s exceptional longevity was linked to her consumption of bananas and Calpis.
She is survived by her son, daughter, and five grandchildren.
She died peacefully on December 29, 2024, at a nursing facility in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Local authorities confirmed her death.