Japan Counts 107,677 Centenarians, Up Nearly 8,000 in a Year
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Japan Counts 107,677 Centenarians, Up Nearly 8,000 in a Year
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 16
Summary
107,677 people aged 100 or older now live in Japan, health ministry data showed, pushing the country past the 100,000 mark for the first time.
Nearly 8,000 more centenarians were recorded than a year earlier, with women accounting for 88% of the total; the oldest woman is 114 and the oldest man 112.
Kenichiro Ueno, Japan’s health minister, said the government would strengthen social security to help older people live long and healthy lives.
Researchers linked Japan’s longevity to diet, active daily routines and affordable health care with regular checkups, while men’s lower survival reflects wartime losses, heavier smoking and drinking, and greater social isolation after retirement.