(Source)
Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old woman from Ashiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, is now recognized as the world’s oldest living person after the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera from Spain. Validated by the Gerontology Research Group and confirmed by Guinness World Records, Tomiko has lived in a nursing home since 2019, after living with her daughters until she was 110.
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About Tomiko: Tomiko was born on May 23, 1908, and is the second of three siblings. She was an active volleyball player in school and married at 20, had four children, and now numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. During World War II, she managed her husband’s textile factory and later lived alone in Nara Prefecture after his death. Tomiko is the 24th oldest person in recorded history and is Japan’s oldest living person as of December 2023.
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The mountain climber: Tomiko is known for her adventurous spirit, having climbed Japan’s 10,062-foot Mt. Ontake twice in her 70s, even wearing sneakers instead of hiking boots. In her 80s, she completed the Saigoku Kannon pilgrimage twice, and at 100, she impressively climbed the steps of Ashiya Shrine without a walking stick. Her family credits her longevity to her love of hiking. Despite her age, she remains communicative, enjoys eating bananas, and drinks Calpis daily.
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