116-Year-Old Japanese Woman to be Named World's Oldest Person

Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old Japanese woman, is poised to be named the world's oldest person according to Guinness World Records. Born in 1908, Itooka, a former mountaineer, is set to receive the title after the death of a 117-year-old Spanish woman, Maria Branyas Morera.

Tomiko Itooka, a 116-year-old Japanese woman, is set to be recognized by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest person, according to the U.S.-based Gerontology Research Group. This comes after the recent passing of 117-year-old Maria Branyas Morera in Spain.

Born on May 23, 1908, Itooka resides in Ashiya, a city in western Japan. Known for her adventurous spirit, she took up mountain climbing in her 70s. She made headlines by scaling Japan's 3,067-metre Mount Ontake twice, even wearing sneakers instead of the conventional hiking boots.

Despite her age, Itooka demonstrated remarkable vitality. On her 100th birthday, she walked up the lengthy stone steps of Ashiya Shrine unaided by a cane, showcasing her extraordinary physical endurance.

(With inputs from agencies.)