Saralnama99,763 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older, setting a new record. Women make up 88% of this group. The oldest person is Shigeko Kagawa, 114, from Yamatokoriyama. Japan's health ministry released these figures before Elderly Day. In 1963, Japan had only 153 centenarians. The country's long life expectancy is due to a healthy diet, low obesity, and active lifestyles. However, some studies question global centenarian numbers. In 2010, a Japanese audit found over 230,000 listed centenarians were unaccounted for, due to poor record-keeping and possible pension fraud. (Updated 12 Sep 2025, 20:09 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- 99,763 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older, setting a new record
- Women make up 88% of this group
- The oldest person is Shigeko Kagawa, 114, from Yamatokoriyama