Japan: More and more, a land of centenarians

TOKYO — Reaching the century mark remains a relative rarity for humans, but it is increasingly less so, and perhaps nowhere more than in rapidly ageing Japan.

The number of Japanese who are at least 100 years old, known as centenarians, has reached 58,820, according to the latest government estimate, released every September to mark Respect-for-the-Aged Day, a national holiday that takes place today (Sept 15). Nearly 90 per cent of Japan’s centenarians are females.

A Japanese woman, 116-year-old Misao Okawa, is the oldest person in the world, according to Guinness World Records.

The oldest man is also Japanese, 111-year-old Sakari Momoi. Somewhat appropriately, one of the Japanese characters in Momoi’s last name means “100,” and his first name Sakari translates as flourishing or the prime of life.

Advances in healthcare are contributing to increased longevity in Japan and elsewhere. Japan now has 46.21 centenarians for every 100,000 people, and ranks near the top in average life expectancies: 86.61 years for women and 80.21 years for men.

Globally, the population of centenarians stood at 441,000 last year and is projected to grow to 3.4 million by 2050, according to the United Nations. AP