TOKYO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Tomiko Itooka, a 115-year-old woman in western Japan's Hyogo prefecture, has become the oldest person in Japan following the recent death of previous title holder, the government said Wednesday.
Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Itooka became the oldest living person in Japan after Fusa Tatsumi, a 116-year-old woman living in Osaka prefecture, died of old age on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
When Itooka first entered a nursing home in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, in 2019, she was still able to move around independently, but nowadays has to be escorted in a wheelchair to take her meals in the living room, according to staff. ■
