World’s oldest person dies in Japan aged 116
Al Jazeera
Tomiko Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, in central Japan.
Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died at the age of 116.
Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies, said Itooka died on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, central Japan.
Itooka, who loved bananas and a yoghurt-flavoured Japanese drink called Calpis, was born on May 23, 1908. She became the oldest person last year following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group.
When she was told she was at the top of the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, she simply replied, “Thank you.”
Itooka celebrated her birthday last year with flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor.
