Japan has reached a historic milestone, with the number of citizens aged 100 and above rising to 99,763, according to new data from the health ministry.
This marks the 55th consecutive year the country has broken its own centenarian record, with women making up 88% of the total. Among them are Shigeko Kagawa, the nation’s oldest living person at 114, and Kiyotaka Mizuno, the oldest man at 111.
Experts attribute this remarkable longevity to a healthy diet, active lifestyles, and low obesity rates. Efforts such as reduced salt intake and popular group exercises like “Radio Taiso” have also played a major role in keeping older citizens in good health.
However, the achievement also highlights Japan’s rapid demographic shift, as one of the fastest-ageing societies faces the challenges of a declining birth rate.
The announcement comes ahead of Elderly Day on September 15, when newly recognised centenarians will be honoured with a letter and a silver cup from the prime minister.
