The number of centenarians in Japan has reached a record high of nearly 100,000, with almost 90 percent of them women, according to data released by the health ministry on Friday.
As of September 1, the country had 99,763 people aged 100 or older, representing an increase of 4,644 from the previous year. Women make up a striking 88 percent of the total.
Japan’s oldest person is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa of the Nara region near Kyoto. A former obstetrician-gynecologist, Kagawa remained active into her 80s and credits her vitality to long walks taken during house calls. She still enjoys good eyesight, spending her days watching television, reading newspapers, and practicing calligraphy.
Globally, the world’s oldest person is 116-year-old Ethel Caterham of the United Kingdom, who inherited the title earlier this year following the death of Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas.
The figures highlight Japan’s worsening demographic challenge, as a shrinking and ageing population puts increasing strain on medical and welfare systems. Official data released last month showed the population of Japanese nationals declined by more than 900,000 in 2024, the largest drop on record.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the situation as a “quiet emergency”, pledging expanded family-friendly measures, including more flexible working hours and free daycare. However, experts note that government initiatives have yet to produce meaningful results in reversing the trend.
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