Japan Surpasses 100,000 Centenarians, Marking a Milestone
WHO:
BBC - Japan has 107,677 centenarians, with 88% being women.
BBC - The oldest woman is Kishimoto Fuyo, aged 114, from Kyoto City.
BBC - The oldest man is Kato Hikaru, aged 112, from Kumamoto.
WHAT:
CNN - The population of centenarians in Japan rose for the 56th consecutive year to 107,677, an increase of almost 8,000 from the previous year.
CNN - The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported that 94,298 of the centenarians are women, accounting for 88% of the total.
CNN - Japan's average life expectancy was reported to be 84 years old in 2024, according to the World Bank, compared to 79 years in the US.
CNN - The population of centenarians in Japan rose to 107,677, an increase of almost 8,000 from the previous year.
CNN - Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno stated, “I am very pleased that so many people are remaining active and healthy for so long.”
BBC - Japan has surpassed 100,000 centenarians, marking the highest number in the world.
BBC - The population of centenarians in Japan is 107,677.
WHERE:
BBC - The oldest woman, Kishimoto Fuyo, is from Kyoto City.
BBC - The oldest man, Kato Hikaru, is from Kumamoto.
WHY:
CNN - The aging population is putting increasing pressure on Japan's economy, raising the costs of elderly care and shrinking its workforce.
BBC - The figures indicate a trend of an aging and shrinking population in Japan.
HOW:
CNN - Japan has opened doors for skilled labor workers in recent years, although the government has tightened visa requirements amid a rise in anti-foreigner sentiment.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 20:05 UTC)
Japan has reached a remarkable milestone, with the population of centenarians rising for the 56th consecutive year to a total of 107,677, marking an increase of nearly 8,000 from the previous year. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare revealed that 94,298 of these centenarians are women, making up 88 percent of the total. Additionally, the World Bank reported that Japan's average life expectancy was 84 years in 2024, significantly higher than the 79 years recorded in the United States.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 11:59 UTC)
Japan's population of centenarians has reached 107,677, marking an increase of nearly 8,000 from the previous year, according to Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno, who expressed pleasure at the number of people remaining active and healthy. However, this growing aging population is putting significant pressure on Japan's economy, leading to higher elderly care costs and a shrinking workforce. In response, Japan has opened its doors to skilled labor workers in recent years, although visa requirements have become stricter due to rising anti-foreigner sentiment.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 02:00 UTC)
Japan has reached a remarkable milestone, boasting a population of 107,677 centenarians, the highest number in the world, with 88 percent of them being women. Among these centenarians, the oldest woman is 114-year-old Kishimoto Fuyo from Kyoto City, while the oldest man is 112-year-old Kato Hikaru from Kumamoto. These figures highlight a significant trend of an aging and shrinking population in Japan.