The late Tomiko Itooka.

Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest woman, has died at the age of 116 in Ashiya, Japan. Ashiya city officials confirmed that Itooka died on December 29 at a nursing home where she had been living since 2019. Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Itooka lived through some of the most significant events in history, including two world wars, numerous technological revolutions, and the onset of the digital age. She became the oldest living person globally following the death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away in August 2024 at the age of 117. "Itooka-san gave us courage and hope through her long life," said Ashiya Mayor Ryosuke Takashima in a statement. "Her resilience and zest for life will forever inspire us." As a young woman, Itooka was active in sports, particularly volleyball, reflecting her zest for physical activity. Even in her later years, she maintained simple pleasures, enjoying bananas and Calpis, a popular milky beverage in Japan. Her longevity placed her among Japan's expanding population of centenarians, which stood at over 95,000 as of September 2024. Women comprise 88 percent of this group, underscoring Japan's unique demographic trends of long-lived citizens. Experts attribute Japan's exceptional longevity rates to a combination of factors, including a balanced diet, active lifestyles, and access to high-quality healthcare. However, the aging population poses challenges for the country, with soaring medical and welfare costs alongside a shrinking labor force. ICA/Expat Media
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