World’s oldest person dies Tomiko Itooka dies at 116 | World News

The world’s oldest person has died at the age of 116, Guinness World Records has said.

Tomiko Itooka died on 29 December at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan, according to staff.

A funeral service was held with family and friends.

Ms Itooka, who loved bananas and a yogurt-flavoured Japanese drink called Calpis, was born on 23 May 1908.

She was recognised as the oldest person last year following the death of 117-year-old Maria Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group.

When told she was at the top of the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, Ms Itooka replied: “Thank you.”

On her birthday last year, she received flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor.

Born in Osaka, Ms Itooka was a volleyball player in high school, and long had a reputation for a sprightly spirit, officials said.

She climbed the 10,062ft Mount Ontake twice.

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According to Guinness World Records, she married at 20 and had two daughters and two sons.

Ms Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory during the Second World War and lived alone in Nara after he died in 1979.

She is survived by one son and one daughter, and five grandchildren.

According to the Gerontology Research Group, the world’s oldest person is now 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born 16 days after Ms Itooka.