"114-Year-Old Mother Who Loves Bread Porridge; Eldest Daughter Is 94"… Japan’s Centenarian Population Surpasses 100,000

7,914 More Centenarians Than Last Year
87.6% of Centenarians Are Women
"Many People Living Healthy Lives Thanks to Advances in Medical Technology"

In Japan, one of the world's most rapidly aging countries, the number of citizens aged 100 and over has surpassed 100,000 for the first time in history. Nearly nine out of ten centenarians are women.

Japan Sees Number of Centenarians Rise for 56 Consecutive Years

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According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on September 15, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that, as of September 1, the number of centenarians across Japan reached 107,677. This marks an increase of 7,914 from the previous year, and with 56 consecutive years of growth, the number has exceeded 100,000 for the first time.

When the count was first conducted in 1963, there were only 153 centenarians in Japan. However, since the number increased to 310 in 1970, it has consistently continued to grow.

Of all Japanese citizens aged 100 or older, 94,298 are women, accounting for 87.6% of the total. The number of individuals turning 100 years old this year stands at 54,294. The number of centenarians per 100,000 people is 87.51. By prefecture, Shimane has the highest proportion, with 186.65 centenarians per 100,000 residents, followed by Kochi (169.52) and Tottori (152.48).

The Oldest Is a 114-Year-Old Grandmother in Kyoto... Her Eldest Daughter Is 94

The oldest living person in Japan is Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old woman who lives in Kyoto City. Born on December 20, 1911, Kishimoto now resides in a special nursing facility. According to Kyodo News, Kishimoto has a sweet tooth—she enjoys 'bread porridge,' a dish made from bread.

Kishimoto lost her husband in her 30s and raised her children while working at a civil engineering site. She continued to work there until the age of 80 and later volunteered as a meal preparer at a childcare facility. She now has two daughters—including her eldest, who is 94 years old—six grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Kenichi Ueno, Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, made a statement ahead of “Respect for the Aged Day” on September 21, saying, “I am glad that, thanks to advances in medical technology, so many people are living long and healthy lives,” and added, “As aging continues further, it is extremely important to make the social security system sustainable.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.