Japan: Record number of centenarians reaching almost 100,000

Japan present has astir 100,000 centenarians oregon older, astir of whom are women, and that fig is intelligibly connected the emergence and has reached grounds levels, according to Japanese authorities figures released today.

The fig comes arsenic confirmation of the ageing Japanese population that is afflicting the world’s 4th largest economy, and astatine a clip erstwhile its population is declining. As of September 1, Japan had 99,763 centenarians, that’s 4,644 much than a twelvemonth ago, with 88% of them being women, the Japanese wellness ministry specified successful a statement.

The presumption of the oldest idiosyncratic successful the archipelago is held by Sigeko Kagawa, who is 114 years aged and lives successful Nara Prefecture, adjacent Kyoto. She remained progressive aft 80 years of work arsenic a gynecologist-midwife and wide practitioner, according to the ministry.

“Walking a batch connected location calls allowed maine to get beardown legs, these are the root of my existent vitality,” Kagawa says. As her eyesight remains good, the superannuated tin walk her days watching TV, speechmaking the paper and doing calligraphy.

The world’s oldest idiosyncratic is Britain’s Ethel Catterham, who celebrated her 116th day successful August, a fewer months aft Brazil’s Ina Canabaro Lucas died astatine the property of 116.

Japan is facing a demographic situation that continues to worsen: the increasing aged colonisation is starring to skyrocketing aesculapian and societal spending portion determination is simply a shrinking workforce to money it, arsenic the commencement complaint remains low.

According to authoritative figures released successful August, Japan’s colonisation is connected way for a grounds diminution – estimated astatine much than 900,000 radical – successful 2024.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, present nether resignation, had astatine the clip called the concern a “silent scourge” and pledged favourable measures for families, specified arsenic much flexible moving hours and escaped childcare services, successful an effort to reverse the trend.

The authorities’ efforts person inactive not yielded important results for the clip being.