News - World’s oldest living person is awarded certificate of longevity

In Japan, the world's oldest living person was honored on the Respect for the Aged Day. On that occasion, 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka was presented with a certificate of longevity. She became the oldest living person in the world after the death of Maria Branyas Morera, who was 117 years old. Itooka has survived her husband who died in 1979. Her son, Hiroshi Kai, says that his mother always liked to spend time alone—climbing the mountains. After turning 80, she continued in the same spirit and visited more than 30 Buddhist temples. Even after her 100th birthday, she did not use a cane when visiting the temples. The Guinness World Records states that in addition to being the oldest living person, Itooka is also the 23rd oldest person ever to have lived.