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Yoshitsugu Nagata, an official in charge of elderly policies,
said Itooka died on Dec. 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo
Prefecture, central Japan.
Itooka, who loved bananas and a yogurt-flavored Japanese drink
called Calpis, was born on May 23, 1908. She became the oldest
person last year following the death of 117-year-old Maria
Branyas, according to the Gerontology Research Group.
When she was told she was at the top of the World
Supercentenarian Rankings List, she simply replied, “Thank you.”
When Itooka celebrated her birthday last year, she received
flowers, a cake and a card from the mayor.
Born in Osaka, Itooka was a volleyball player in high school,
and long had a reputation for a sprightly spirit, Nagata said.
She climbed the 3,067-meter (10,062-foot) Mount Ontake twice.
She married at 20, and had two daughters and two sons, according
to Guinness.
Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory
during World War II. She lived alone in Nara after her husband
died in 1979.
She is survived by one son and one daughter, and five
grandchildren. A funeral service was held with family and
friends, according to Nagata.
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 Itooka.
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