The world's oldest person, Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, has died aged 116, the city where she lived, Ashiya, announced on Saturday.
Itooka, who had four children and five grandchildren, died on December 29 at a nursing home where she resided since 2019, the southern city's mayor said in a statement.
She was born on May 23, 1908, in the commercial hub of Osaka, near Ashiya -- four months before the Ford Model T was launched in the United States.
Itooka was recognised as the oldest person in the world after the August 2024 death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera at age 117.
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"Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life," Ashiya's 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima said in the statement.
"We thank her for it."
Itooka, who was one of three siblings, lived through world wars and pandemics as well as technological breakthroughs.
As a student, she played volleyball.
In her older age, Itooka enjoyed bananas and Calpis, a milky soft drink popular in Japan, according to the mayor's statement.
Women typically enjoy longevity in Japan, but the country is facing a worsening demographic crisis as its expanding elderly population leads to soaring medical and welfare costs, with a shrinking labour force to pay for it.
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As of September, Japan counted more than 95,000 people who were 100 or older - 88 per cent of whom were women.
Of the country's 124 million people, nearly a third are 65 or older.
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Itooka was recognised as the oldest person in the world after the August 2024 death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera at age 117.

The world's oldest person, Japanese woman Tomiko Itooka, has died aged 116, the city where she lived, Ashiya, announced on Saturday. Itooka, who had four children and five grandchildren, died on December 29 at a nursing home where she resided since 2019, the southern city's mayor said in a statement. She was born on May 23, 1908, in the commercial hub of Osaka, near Ashiya -- four months before the Ford Model T was launched in the United States. Itooka was recognised as the oldest person in the world after the August 2024 death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera at age 117. Also read | IDF releases footage claiming to show troops inside area used as 'hideout' by Hamas "Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life," Ashiya's 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima said in the statement. "We thank her for it." Itooka, who was one of three siblings, lived through world wars and pandemics as well as technological breakthroughs. As a student, she played volleyball. In her older age, Itooka enjoyed bananas and Calpis, a milky soft drink popular in Japan, according to the mayor's statement. Women typically enjoy longevity in Japan, but the country is facing a worsening demographic crisis as its expanding elderly population leads to soaring medical and welfare costs, with a shrinking labour force to pay for it. Also read | Biden to award Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Lionel Messi among 16 others As of September, Japan counted more than 95,000 people who were 100 or older - 88 per cent of whom were women. Of the country's 124 million people, nearly a third are 65 or older. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Tomiko Itooka, world's oldest person, dies at 116

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Tomiko Itooka, world's oldest person, dies at 116