Tomiko Itooka is now the world’s oldest living person at 116 years old. She was born in Japan on May 23, 1908. 

Just think about all the changes Mrs. Itooka saw in her lifetime. She grew up before most people had dishwashers or air conditioning! When Mrs. Itooka was born, World War I was still six years away. 

Mrs. Itooka now lives in a nursing home in Ashiya, Japan. She became the world’s oldest person this week. She got the title after Maria Branyas Morera passed away. Mrs. Branyas was 117 years old.

Mrs. Itooka is the oldest person alive today. But she isn’t the oldest person that Guinness World Records has recorded. That title belongs to Jeanna Louise Calment. She lived to be 122 years, 164 days old. 

The Bible says that someone else once lived much longer. Methuselah lived to the age of 969. You can read about him in Genesis 5.

Mrs. Itooka celebrated her birthday three months ago. She got flowers and a cake. The mayor gave her a card. Cake doesn’t seem to be her everyday treat. Maybe that’s part of why she has lived so long. Every morning, she has a yogurt-flavored drink called Calpis. Her favorite food is bananas.

And she has stayed active for much of her life. Mrs. Itooka played volleyball in high school. She climbed 10,062-foot Mount Ontake twice. She enjoyed long hikes even after she turned 100. 

After getting married at 20, she had two daughters and two sons. Mrs. Itooka managed the office of her husband’s textile factory during World War II. 

When she heard the news this week about becoming the oldest person, she replied, “Thank you.”

So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. — Psalm 71:18