Europe Asia News

The Ministry of Health said on Friday that Japan has broken the record for the 55th consecutive year, with 99,763 people aged 100 or older as of September. 88% of them are women.

Japan has the world’s highest life expectancy and is often home to the world’s oldest person; however, some studies question the true global number of people over 100.

Despite generally healthier diets, Japan is also one of the fastest-aging societies due to its low birth rate.

The oldest person in Japan is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa from Yamatokoriyama, a suburb of Nara. The oldest man is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno from the coastal city of Iwata.

Health Minister Takamaro Fukoka congratulated 87,784 women and 11,979 men who had surpassed the age of 100, praising their longevity and expressing gratitude “for their contributions to the development of society over many years.”

The figures were released ahead of the national holiday, Respect for the Aged Day, on September 15, when new centenarians receive a congratulatory letter from the Prime Minister and a silver cup. This year, 52,310 people received this honor.

In the 1960s, Japan had the lowest proportion of centenarians among the G7 countries, but that has changed significantly since then.

When the government began its centenarian survey in 1963, there were only 153 people aged 100 or older.

The figure rose to 1,000 in 1981 and reached 10,000 in 1998.

The higher life expectancy is mainly attributed to a decline in deaths from heart disease and common cancers, such as breast and prostate cancer.

Japan’s low obesity rates, thanks to diets low in red meat and high in fish and vegetables, have also played an important role in reducing these diseases.

The particularly low obesity rates among women help explain why Japanese women live much longer than men.

While diets in much of the world have become higher in sugar and salt, Japan has taken the opposite path, with public health campaigns convincing people to cut back on salt intake.

But it’s not just about diet. Japanese people tend to remain active into old age, walking more and using public transportation compared to seniors in the U.S. and Europe.

The daily group exercise “Radio Taiso,” which has been part of Japanese culture since 1928, promotes community spirit and public health. This three-minute routine is broadcast on television and practiced in small community groups across the country.