Japan is a land of long-lived people, with more than 95,000 residents over 100 years old.

The number of people over 100 in Japan has reached a record high of more than 95,000, with nearly 90% of them women, government data showed today. The figures underscore an unfolding demographic crisis affecting the world's fourth-largest economy as its population ages and shrinks.

As of Sept. 1, there were 95,119 centenarians living in Japan, up 2,980 from last year, including 83,958 women and 11,161 men, the Health Ministry said in a statement.

Data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed that in 2024, about 36.25 million Japanese citizens will be aged 65 and older, accounting for 29.3% of the population, a new record high.

With this percentage, Japan ranks first among 200 countries and regions in terms of population aging, followed by Martinique (25.3%), Puerto Rico (24.7%) and Italy (24.6%), the ministry noted.

According to data American Gerontology Research Groupcurrently resides in Japan The oldest living person in the world is Tomiko Ituka, who was born on May 23, 1908 and is 116 years old. The previous world record holder was Maria Branias Morera, who died last month. in Spain at the age of 117.

Ituka lives in a nursing home in Ashiya, western Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, the ministry said. She often says “thank you” to the nursing home staff and expresses nostalgia for her hometown.I have no idea what the secret of my longevity is.“Japan's oldest man, 110-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno, told local media.

He lives with his family in Iwate, Shizuoka Prefecture in central Japan, wakes up every morning at 6:30 a.m. and eats three meals a day without being picky. His hobby is listening to live sports broadcasts, according to the ministry.

Japan faces an ever-worsening demographic crisis as a growing elderly population means health and social costs are rising while the workforce to cover them is shrinking.

In 2023, the country's population fell by 595,000 compared to 2022, to 124 million. The government has tried, without much success, to slow the population decline while gradually increasing the retirement age: 65 is now the norm for all employers from fiscal year 2025.

The Greek government is looking at the problems in Japan because Hellas faces a similar demographic crisis.

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