World’s oldest woman who credited long life to two simple things dies aged 116

Tomiko Itooka on her 116th birthday in May last year (Credits: AP)

A Japanese woman believed to be the oldest person in the world has died at the age of 116.

Tomiko Itooka passed away on December 29 at a care home in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, central Japan, according to staff.

Guinness World Records recognised her as the world’s oldest human in August last year after 117-year-old Maria Branyas died in Spain.

Tomiko put her long life down to a love of bananas and a Japanese yoghurt drink called Calpis...