By John Ogunsemore
A 116-year-old Japanese woman, Tomiko Itooka now holds the record for oldest living woman and oldest living person, the Guinness World Records has said.
Tomiko, who was born on May 23, 1908, achieved the record following the death of Spanish-American, Maria Branyas Morera, who died aged 117 years and 168 days on Monday, August 19.
The GWR said Tomiko’s age was validated by the Robert D. Young-led Gerontology Research Group and she was confirmed to be alive on Wednesday, August 21, by a GWR representative.
She lives in a nursing home in the city of Ashiya in Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture, which has been her abode since 2019, having previously lived at home with her two daughters until the age of 110.
Tomiko was said to have celebrated her 116th birthday three months ago.
Her carers said the mother of four remains able to communicate clearly, despite being hard of hearing.