Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman has lived for more than a century and is recorded as the world’s oldest person by Guinness World Records. She was born on Born on May 23, 1908, in Ashiya, Japan. She witnessed major world events like the first long-distance radio message from the Eiffel Tower and the Wright Brothers.
She is a former mountaineer and manages a textile factory in South Korea. According to the US-based Gerontology Research Group, she comes following the recent passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera of Spain. She gave birth to four children and resides in the Western Japanese city of Ashiya.
Remarkable Journey and Passionate Mountaineering
The living lady is the eldest of three siblings and married at the age of 20. She gave birth to four children and at present resides in the Western Japanese city of Ashiya. After the death of her husband in 1979, she took over to Nara Prefecture where she found her passion for mountain climbing. After taking up mountaineering in the 70s, She scaled Japan’s 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice.
She impressed people by climbing on mountains in sneakers instead of traditional hiking boots. Japan is a country of wanderers like motivated man Daisuke Hori, who sleeps for 30 minutes and Itooka’s life is also adventurous. Her daring spirit did not stop there, at the age of 100 she was walking the long stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without using a cane.
All this demonstrates her great physical achievements but after entering the nursing home she required a wheelchair to walk around. After 2019, she is was remained in Ashiya Japan. In 2024 her photo celebrating her 116 birthday went viral on social media. Itooka is a lively person in nature and Japan’s oldest person too since December 2023.
Legacy and Longevity
After Maria Branyas Morera’s death on Monday, Itooka is the first person in a queue of the world’s oldest people but she demonstrates extraordinary physical endurance. Her life story is filled with struggle and resilience and is a good example of vitality and longevity. The Guinness World Record is expected to confirm her title soon, highlighting her incredible journey of 116 years.
