Japan continues to stand out as one of the world’s leading nations in terms of life expectancy. According to official data released by the Ministry of Health, the number of people aged 100 and above has reached 99,763 as of September 2025. This marks the 55th consecutive year of record growth, with an overwhelming 88% of centenarians being women.
The reasons behind Japan’s remarkable longevity go beyond genetics. Dietary habits centered on fish, vegetables, and low salt intake, combined with an active lifestyle, have been key contributors. Since 1928, daily community exercise known as Radio Taiso has helped seniors stay physically engaged. Moreover, older Japanese citizens remain mobile, often walking and relying on public transportation rather than sedentary routines.
Japan’s oldest woman is Shigeko Kagava from Nara, while the oldest man is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno from Iwata. Health Minister Takamoro Fukoka praised the 84,784 women and 11,879 men who make up this age group, thanking them for their lifelong contributions to society. To honor them, the government sent congratulatory letters and silver cups to over 53,000 people this year.
Yet, Japan’s demographic shift also reveals challenges: while life expectancy rises, birth rates remain low, making it one of the fastest-aging societies in the world. In 1963, there were only 153 centenarians; by 1981 the figure exceeded 1,000, in 1998 it surpassed 10,000, and today it is close to 100,000.
Questions about the accuracy of such data persist, however. In 2010, thousands of cases were uncovered where deceased individuals were still officially recorded as alive, partly due to families continuing to collect pensions. Globally, longevity records remain controversial, with England’s Ethel Caterham — born in 1909 and the last living subject of King Edward VII — currently recognized as the world’s oldest living person.