Japan's 116-Year-Old Tomiko Itooka Passes Away, Marking the End of an Era
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Tokyo, January 4 (NationPress) — Japanese news outlets reported on Saturday that Tomiko Itooka, who was recognized as the oldest living person in the world at 116 years of age, has passed away due to natural causes.
Itooka passed away earlier this week in a nursing home located in Ashiya, a city in western Japan, as confirmed by the local government in Hyogo Prefecture, according to a report by Kyodo News.
This remarkable woman was born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, being the eldest of three siblings.
At the specialized nursing facility where she spent her final years, Itooka enjoyed her favorite lactic acid drinks and was known to express her gratitude to the staff, reported the Japanese daily The Mainichi on Saturday.
Ashiya Mayor Ryosuke Takashima remarked, "Her long life inspired us with immense courage and hope. I extend my heartfelt condolences."
Itooka became Japan's oldest living resident in December 2023 following the passing of Fusa Tatsumi, another 116-year-old from Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture.
Tatsumi, born on April 25, 1907, had spent her final days largely in bed at a nursing home in her hometown.
She became Japan's oldest person in April 2022 after the death of a 119-year-old woman from Fukuoka.
Itooka was officially recognized as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records in September 2024, following the passing of the previous titleholder, Maria Branyas Morera, a 117-year-old from Olot, Catalonia, Spain.
Morera was born on March 4, 1907, according to records from Guinness.
The average life expectancy in Japan peaked in 2020, reaching 87.71 years for women and 81.56 years for men.
However, these figures saw a decrease in 2021 and 2022 due to rising fatalities attributed to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2023, Japan's average life expectancy rose for the first time in three years, attributed to a decline in Covid-19 related deaths, as indicated by government statistics.
As of July 2024, the average life expectancy for women in Japan reached 87.14 years, a slight increase of 0.05 years from 2022, while for men it was 81.09 years, up by 0.04 years, according to data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
