At 116, Former Japanese Mountaineer Is Now Titled World's Oldest Person

Meet the 116-year-old ball of life, Tomiko Itooka. She is all set to adorn the title of 'World's Oldest Person' by Guinness World Records as a celebration of her long life. 

Bow down to the winner, the results have been announced

The Gerontology Research Group (GRG) is pleased to announce that Mrs. Tomiko Itooka of Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, 🇯🇵 Japan, born 23.05.1908, aged 116, became the candidate for the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS @GWR World’s Oldest Person title.https://t.co/W4xiEvpXc9 pic.twitter.com/z4fdZaJHin

— Gerontology Research Group (GRG) (@GerontologyGrg) August 20, 2024

The United States-based Gerontology Research Group took to Twitter and announced that Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old Japanese Woman will be honoured with the title of 'World's Oldest Person' alive. But like all achievements in the world, this one too came at a price. Itooka won only when Spain's Maria Branyas Morera took her last breath at the age of 117 recently. 

Itooka: A life legendary and long

Itooka was born May 23, 1908, and resides in the western part of Japan. A small town called Ashiya inhabits this ball of life. She eats the same food every morning and starts her day with Caplis, a sweet yogurt-flavoured drink. She tops it with some bananas, which are her favourite. 

Itooka is a mother of three. Even with such a time and energy-consuming family life, she maintained her career. And no ordinary career! In her 70s, Itooka undertook mountain climbing. She took not one, but two laps of Japan's 3,067-metre Mount Ontake. 

At the age of 100, she climbed up and down the steps of Ashiya's Shrine with the support of her cane only. 

A glimpse of her 116th birthday celebration

Age is just a number! This woman has proved it in her 116th celebration of life.

Three months back, the nursing home where Itooka resides in Ashiya threw a cute birthday party for her. Balloon arches and a giant golden balloon in the shape of the digits 1-1-6 set the tone for her special day. Flower bouquets and a huge cake in the shape of a rectangle surrounded her kind smile.