Life News
Japan passes 100,000 centenarians for the first time: 107,677, and almost nine in ten are women
Japan now has more than 100,000 people aged 100 or older for the first time. Official figures show there were 107,677 centenarians as of 1 September, an increase of 7,914 on last year and a record for the 56th year in a row.
Vietnam News, carrying a Jiji Press report, said women account for 94,298 of them. The oldest woman is Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, of Kyoto, and the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, 112, of Kumamoto. Shimane prefecture has had the highest rate of centenarians per 100,000 people for 14 straight years.
“I'm pleased that so many people have been active for a long time.” — Kenichiro Ueno, health minister, via Vietnam News
Briefly News in South Africa reported the same totals with a lighter tone, opening with "Japan has done it again" and asking in its headline what their secret is.
How each outlet framed it
- Vietnam News (Jiji) — the official record: names, regions and the minister's reaction.
- Briefly News — a curiosity for foreign readers: what makes Japan's elderly live so long.
Where the numbers differ: Vietnam News says women make up nearly 90% of centenarians, while Briefly News says nearly 88%. The ministry's own figures, 94,298 women out of 107,677, work out at about 87.6%, so "nearly 88%" is the closer description.
What we don't know yet: Neither report says how many centenarians live independently or in care, which matters for families planning for very long lives.