Centenarians living in Japan exceed 100,000 for the first time

TOKYO — The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan surpassed a record 100,000 this year, the latest government figures show, underscoring the country’s rapidly aging and declining population.The Health and Welfare Ministry statistics released Tuesday (Sept 15) show Japan now has 107,677 centenarians, up 7,914 from the previous year and exceeding the 100,000 mark for the first time. Nearly 88 per cent of them are women.Kyoto resident Fuyo Kishimoto was recently recognised as the oldest Japanese woman at age 114. Japan’s oldest male is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto in southern Japan.The figures were released to mark this year’s Sept 15 Respect the Aged day, when healthy and active centenarians are honoured by the government with a letter from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and a silver sake cup.”I’m very pleased that many people are living a long, healthy and active lives,” Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno told reporters Tuesday, citing progress in medical technology, healthy lifestyle and diet as contributing factors.