The number of people in Japan aged 100 or older has risen to a record high of nearly 100,000, its government has announced. Setting a new record for the 55th year in a row, the number of centenarians in Japan was 99,763 as of September, the health ministry said on Friday. Of that total, women accounted for an overwhelming 88%.
Japan has the world's longest life expectancy and is known for often being home to the world's oldest living person, though some studies contest the actual number of centenarians worldwide. It is also one of the fastest aging societies, with residents often having a healthier diet but a low birth rate.
The oldest person in Japan is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa, a woman from Yamatokoriyama, a suburb of the city Nara. Meanwhile, the oldest man is Kiyotaka Mizuno, 111, from the coastal city of Iwata. Health minister Takamaro Fukoka congratulated the 87,784 female and 11,979 male centenarians on their longevity and expressed his gratitude for their many years of contributions to society.
The figures were released ahead of Japan's Elderly Day on 15 September, a national holiday where new centenarians receive a congratulatory letter and silver cup from the prime minister. This year, 52,310 individuals were eligible. The higher life expectancy is mainly attributed to fewer deaths from heart disease and common forms of cancer, as well as low rates of obesity, particularly among women.
Japanese dietary habits, which emphasize fish and vegetables, combined with a culture of staying active, contribute to maintaining health in later years. While Japan celebrates this achievement, some studies have raised questions about the accuracy of the global centenarian population figures, indicating issues such as unreliable records may skew the numbers.
