World's oldest person who loved bananas and yogurt-flavoured drink dies aged 116

"Ms Itooka gave us courage and hope through her long life," said Ashiya's 27-year-old mayor Ryosuke Takashima in a statement.

A funeral service has been held with family and friends present.

Born in May 1908, Itooka lived through both world wars and witnessed numerous technological breakthroughs, including the launch of the Ford Model T car in her birth year.

She became the world's oldest person in September 2024 following the death of Spain's Maria Branyas Morera, who passed away at age 117.

When informed of her status atop the World Supercentenarian Rankings List, she simply replied, "Thank you."

Itooka was officially presented with her Guinness World Records certificate on Japan's Respect for the Aged Day.

Throughout her life, she maintained an active lifestyle, playing volleyball during her high school years.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• World's oldest person who loved chocolate and fizzy drinks passes away at the age of 119
  
• World's oldest conjoined twins dead at 62 years old after defying doctors who said they wouldn't live past 30
• World's oldest man who was born the year the Titanic sank dies aged 112

She was particularly fond of climbing and notably ascended the 3,067-metre (10,062ft) Mount Ontake twice.

Even in her later years, she maintained specific dietary preferences, enjoying bananas and Calpis - a milky soft drink popular in Japan.

These simple pleasures were noted in the mayor's statement as being part of her daily life.

Itooka married at age 20 and had four children - two daughters and two sons.

During World War II, she managed the office of her husband's textile factory.

Following her husband's death in 1979, after 51 years of marriage, she lived alone in Nara.

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

According to the Gerontology Research Group, the world's oldest person is now Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, aged 116, having been born just 16 days after Itooka.

Japan remains notable for its elderly population, with more than 95,000 people aged 100 or older, 88 per cent of whom are women.