Japan: The oldest of humanity dies at 116

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

Hibapress

Japanese Tomiko Itooka, oldest of humanity, died on December 29 at the age of 116 in a residence for the elderly, the town of Ashiya (south) where she lived announced on Saturday.

“Ms. Itooka gave us courage and hope throughout her long life,” said Ashiya Mayor Ryosuke Takashima.

Born on May 23, 1908 in Osaka, Ms. Itooka inherited the title of world dean after the death in August 2024 of the Spaniard Maria Branyas Morera, who died at the age of 117.

A former volleyball player, mother of four children and grandmother of five grandchildren, she had resided in a retirement home since 2019.

This death occurs in a context of accelerated aging of the Japanese population, where more than 95,000 people are centenarians, 88% of whom are women.

Nearly a third of the Asian country’s 124 million inhabitants are aged 65 and over.