Japan has once again broken its own record for longevity, officially counting nearly 100,000 people aged 100 or older. Figures from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare confirm that as of September 2025, 99,763 Japanese citizens are centenarians as reported by The Japan Times. This remarkable achievement represents not just personal triumphs of survival but also the outcome of decades of investment in healthcare, nutrition, and cultural practices that promote healthy ageing. It is also the 55th consecutive year that Japan has seen an increase in its centenarian population, a testament to both national resilience and demographic shifts. While the milestone highlights Japan’s global leadership in life expectancy, it also draws attention to the pressing challenges of an ageing society.

Japan’s centenarians: Longevity, strength, and active lives beyond 100

For more than half a century, Japan has seen uninterrupted growth in the number of people living to 100. As reported, in 2025, the country reported 4,644 more centenarians compared to the previous year. Interestingly, women overwhelmingly dominate this demographic, making up 88% of the total. This gender imbalance is consistent with global patterns where women typically live longer than men, though the scale in Japan is particularly striking. Such longevity reflects not only advancements in medicine but also lifestyle factors that continue to set the Japanese population apart from the rest of the world.Among Japan’s centenarians are individuals who have become symbols of human endurance. Shigeko Kagawa, aged 114, holds the title of the nation’s oldest living person. Her career as an obstetrician until the age of 86 and her participation as an Olympic torchbearer at 109 embody Japan’s spirit of active ageing. Meanwhile, 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno represents the oldest living man, living in the coastal city of Iwata. These individuals highlight not only the potential for long life but also the ability to remain socially engaged and purposeful well into advanced age.

Japan’s centenarians and the celebration of life beyond 100

The timing of the announcement is significant, coinciding with Elderly Day, a national holiday held each September to honour senior citizens. On this day, centenarians are celebrated with gifts such as silver cups and letters from the prime minister. In 2025 alone, over 52,000 people received this recognition, showing how quickly the population of centenarians is expanding. This tradition underscores Japan’s cultural emphasis on respect for the elderly, a value deeply embedded in its society, and illustrates how longevity is celebrated not merely as survival but as a collective achievement.The story of Japan’s centenarians is one of rapid and extraordinary growth. In 1963, when the government first began tracking people aged 100 and above, only 153 individuals qualified. By 1981, the number surpassed 1,000, and by 1998, it had already reached 10,000. Today, the figure has multiplied nearly a thousandfold. This dramatic shift reflects the combined impact of better healthcare, modern medicine, and sustained efforts in disease prevention. Unlike other nations where lifespan improvements have plateaued, Japan continues to see steady progress.

Secret behind Japanese longevity

Experts attribute Japan’s world-leading life expectancy to several interwoven factors. Diet plays a crucial role. Traditional Japanese meals are low in saturated fats and red meat while being rich in vegetables, rice, fish, soy products, and fermented foods. These contribute to lower obesity rates and fewer chronic illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers.Equally important are government-driven health campaigns. In the postwar years, when many countries saw a rise in salt and sugar consumption, Japan implemented strong measures encouraging its population to cut back, successfully reducing hypertension and related illnesses.Physical activity remains a defining feature of Japanese lifestyles. Many seniors continue walking daily, using public transportation, and engaging in communal exercise routines. One of the most enduring is Radio Taiso, a broadcast of simple calisthenics that began in 1928. For millions, this remains a daily ritual that not only supports physical health but also reinforces social connection.

Japan’s longevity story from record-breaking ages to modern challenges

Not all of Japan’s longevity records have been without issues. In 2010, a government review revealed that more than 230,000 centenarians listed in official records could not be accounted for, exposing flaws in registration systems. Some cases involved deceased individuals whose families failed to report their passing, occasionally to continue receiving pension benefits. The most notorious discovery was that of Sogen Koto, believed to be Tokyo’s oldest man at 111, whose remains were found in his home decades after his death. Since this scandal, Japan has improved its verification processes, making current records far more reliable.While Japan takes pride in its growing centenarian population, it also faces stark demographic challenges. The country is experiencing one of the fastest rates of population decline in the world. In 2024, deaths exceeded births by nearly one million — the steepest annual decline recorded since surveys began. The population, which peaked at 126.6 million in 2009, has been steadily shrinking, raising concerns about the sustainability of healthcare systems, pension programs, and the workforce.Also Read | North Korea’s bizarre word ban: From ice cream to hamburgers, Kim Jong Un’s language rules explained