Japan has set a new record of nearly 100,000 people aged 100 or older, with women making up the vast majority, according to government figures released ahead of Elderly Day.
Japan has recorded a new milestone of nearly 100,000 centenarians, the government announced on Friday, continuing a trend of record highs for the 55th consecutive year.
According to the health ministry, 99,763 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older, with women accounting for 88% of the total. The oldest person is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa from Yamatokoriyama, while the oldest man is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno from Iwata.
Health Minister Takamaro Fukoka congratulated the 87,784 women and 11,979 men, expressing “gratitude for their many years of contributions to the development of society.”
The figures were released ahead of Japan’s Elderly Day on 15 September, a national holiday where new centenarians receive a letter and silver cup from the prime minister. This year, 52,310 individuals were eligible.
Japan’s longevity is attributed to healthier diets, low obesity rates, and cultural practices like group exercise, though past audits have revealed miscounts due to unreliable records and hidden deaths.