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| Japan sets new record with almost 100, 000 centenarians. |
Japan has achieved a remarkable milestone, with the number of citizens aged 100 or older reaching 99,763, as reported by the latest statistics from the country’s health ministry.
According to Complex, this new achievement marks the 55th consecutive year that Japan has set a new record for centenarians. Women make up the majority, representing approximately 88% of those who have celebrated their 100th birthday.
Renowned for having the highest life expectancy globally, Japan is home to some of the oldest individuals on record. Presently, the oldest person is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa, while the oldest man is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno.
Officials attribute this extraordinary longevity to factors such as diet, lifestyle choices, and low rates of obesity. Public health initiatives aimed at reducing salt consumption, along with active lifestyles that include daily walking and group exercises like “Radio Taiso,” have contributed to the health and longevity of many Japanese citizens.
However, this increase in centenarians also highlights one of the fastest aging populations in the world, compounded by a declining birth rate that presents additional challenges.
These latest statistics were released just before Japan’s annual Elderly Day celebration on September 15, during which new centenarians receive a congratulatory letter and a silver cup from the prime minister.