Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare released its latest figures this week, showing that the number of centenarians nationwide hit 107,677 as of early September. It is the first time the milestone of 100,000 has been crossed since record-keeping began in 1963. This marks the 56th consecutive year that the total number of centenarians has hit a new high, with women making up about 90 percent of the total.
Looking out at elderly folks moving slowly down the streets but still full of spirit, local officials said at a press briefing that they are thrilled to see people living such long lives while staying active. Looking at regional data, Shimane Prefecture has the highest proportion of centenarians, ranking first for the 14th straight year, while major urban centers like Saitama and Osaka have relatively fewer. Japan's oldest woman lives in Kyoto and is 114 this year, while the oldest man lives in Kumamoto at 112.
Behind these numbers are real, lived lives. In Oita Prefecture, a centenarian named Tamai picked up handicraft-making in her fifties and is still thinking about how to bring joy to others. Over in Gunma Prefecture, a 103-year-old grandfather named Akuzawa suffered a fall and heart failure a few years back, but with the encouragement of his family, he climbed to the summit of Mount Fuji at the remarkable age of 102, setting a Guinness World Record. In local tea stalls and neighborhood alleys, the energy and grit of these seniors are frequent chat topics, as people watch them and figure out their own paths to a long life.
