Japan has surpassed the 100,000 mark for centenarians for the first time, as the country continues to grapple with an aging population and a declining birth rate.
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Data published by the Ministry of Health shows that the number of people aged 100 and over has reached 107,677. Women account for 88% of the total.
Japan’s oldest person is 114-year-old Kishimoto Fuyo from Kyoto. Among men, the record is held by 112-year-old Kato Hikaru from Kumamoto.
Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno welcomed the rise in the number of centenarians as a positive indicator. He said that advances in medicine and technology have helped people live longer.
However, Kenichiro Ueno pointed out that the aging population is placing significant strain on the sustainability of Japan’s social security system.
When authorities began officially registering people over the age of 100 in 1963, Japan had only 153 centenarians.
The figure rose to more than 1,000 people in 1981 and to 10,000 in 1998. Today, it has reached 107,677.
The statistics are published shortly before the national “Respect for the Aged” holiday. On this day, the government honors citizens who turn 100 by sending them a personal letter and a traditional sake cup.
Experts attribute Japan’s high life expectancy to several factors, including diet and physical activity.
The traditional Japanese diet is based largely on fish, vegetables and rice, and generally contains less saturated fat than many Western diets.
An active lifestyle also helps maintain good health. Many older people walk regularly, travel by public transport, ride bicycles and do stretching exercises.
The rapid increase in the number of older people has also spurred the development of products and technologies specifically designed for them. These include powered exoskeletons, which facilitate movement, as well as optical devices with automatic focus.
