Centenarians residing in Japan exceed 100,000 for the primary time

TOKYO — The variety of individuals aged 100 or older in Japan surpassed a report 100,000 this yr, the most recent authorities figures present, underscoring the nation’s quickly growing older and declining population.

The Health and Welfare Ministry statistics launched Tuesday present Japan now has 107,677 centenarians, up 7,914 from the earlier yr and exceeding the 100,000 mark for the primary time. Nearly 88% of them are ladies.

Kyoto resident Fuyo Kishimoto was just lately acknowledged because the oldest Japanese girl at age 114. Japan’s oldest male is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto in southern Japan.

The figures have been launched to mark this yr’s Sept. 15 Respect the Aged day, when wholesome and lively centenarians are honored by the federal 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 advised reporters Tuesday, citing progress in medical expertise, wholesome life-style and weight loss program as contributing components.

Ueno famous the significance of sustaining a sustainable social safety system because the inhabitants continues to age and decline.

Many youthful individuals, nonetheless, are usually not optimistic about their future.

The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research final week launched the outcomes of a survey indicating greater than 20% of each women and men who’re single and aged between 18 and 34 don’t have any intention of ever marrying, with practically half saying they see no profit in marriage.

Ueno acknowledged the explanations for marriage reluctance amongst younger individuals embrace the excessive prices of elevating and educating youngsters and the psychological and bodily burden on working mother and father. He stated the federal government will proceed addressing their considerations and try to show round issues associated to Japan’s growing older inhabitants and dwindling births.

Japan’s drastic inhabitants decline is inevitable, specialists say, noting the nation’s complete fertility fee dropped to a report low 1.14 in 2025, far beneath the two.1 youngsters wanted to be born to every Japanese girl to take care of the present inhabitants.

Japan’s complete inhabitants in the course of the 2020 census stood at 126 million, virtually 30% of which have been 65 or older. Experts estimate there might be a decline to 87 million by 2070 with practically 40% aged 65 or older, in response to the nationwide institute.

There have been 153 individuals aged 100 or older in Japan when centenarian surveys started in 1963. They exceeded 1,000 in 1981 and surpassed 10,000 in 1998, in response to the Health and Welfare Ministry.