Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman, became the world’s oldest living person at age 116, following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Guinness World Records.
pic : apnews
Her age and birthdate — May 23, 1908 — were confirmed by the Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, and put her at the top of its World Supercentenarian Rankings List.
Living in a nursing home in Ashiya, a city in Hyogo Prefecture that also confirms her birthdate, Itooka assumed the title of the world's oldest person after Branyas’ family announced the 117-year-old’s death on Tuesday.
Guinness confirmed Itooka’s new status on Thursday. When informed about her becoming the oldest person, She replied, “Thank you,” a phrase she also relays often to the caretakers at her home.
Itooka celebrated her birthday three months ago and received a cake, flowers, and a card from the mayor. She enjoys a popular yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis every morning, and her favorite food is bananas.
Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player in high school. She married at 20, and had two daughters and two sons, according to Guinness.
During World War II, Itooka oversaw the administration of her husband's textile firm. After her husband passed away in 1979, she lived alone in Nara until moving into a nursing facility. Even after being 100 years old, she continued to enjoy long excursions and ascended the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake thrice.
data and pic : apnews.com