Japan, recognized for its wholesome ageing inhabitants, has reached a brand new report – with greater than 95,000 residents older than 100.
This lovely nation has the best variety of centenarians by capita of any nation with 90 p.c of them being girls, in response to authorities information launched on September 17.
These figures underscore Japan’s deepening demographic disaster, as its inhabitants continues to age and shrink.
As of September 1, the nation had 95,119 centenarians, a rise of two,980 from the earlier yr. Of those, 83,958 had been girls, whereas 11,161 had been males, the well being ministry reported.
Individually, on September 15, further information revealed that Japan’s over-65 inhabitants had additionally reached a report 36.25 million, accounting for 29.3 p.c of the nation’s complete inhabitants.
With the best proportion of centenarians amongst 200 nations and areas with populations over 100,000, Japan tops the worldwide record, in response to the Ministry of Inner Affairs and Communications.
At the moment, Japan is dwelling to the world’s oldest residing particular person, Tomiko Itooka, who was born on Might 23, 1908, and is now 116 years previous, as confirmed by the US-based Gerontology Analysis Group.
The earlier record-holder, María Branyas Morera, handed away in Spain in August on the age of 117.
Ms. Itooka resides in a nursing dwelling in Ashiya, Hyogo prefecture, the place she is understood for expressing gratitude to the workers and reminiscing about her hometown, the ministry mentioned.
Japan’s oldest man, Kiyotaka Mizuno, aged 110, lives along with his household in Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture. Regardless of his longevity, Mr. Mizuno instructed native media that he has “no thought in any respect” concerning the secret to his lengthy life.
He maintains a routine of waking up at 6.30am and enjoys three meals a day with out being choosy about meals. His favourite pastime is listening to dwell sports activities, together with sumo wrestling, the ministry added.
As Japan’s aged inhabitants continues to develop, the nation is grappling with rising medical and welfare prices, all whereas its shrinking workforce struggles to assist these rising bills. Japan’s complete inhabitants now stands at 124 million, having declined by 595,000 within the earlier yr.
Efforts by the federal government to sluggish each inhabitants decline and the fast ageing development have proven restricted success, prompting gradual modifications corresponding to extending the retirement age. By fiscal 2025, the retirement age shall be set at 65 for all employers.