More than 100k people in Japan are now aged 100 or older

Japan now has 107,677 people aged 100 or older, the highest number recorded anywhere, and women make up about 88% of that group. The oldest woman is Kishimoto Fuyo, 114, and the oldest man is Kato Hikaru, 112. Centenarian counts have climbed steadily since records began in 1963 (153 then, 1,000 by 1981, 10,000 by 1998), a rise credited to better medicine and technology plus lifestyle factors such as a diet heavy in fish, vegetables and rice, regular walking and use of public transport. Officials celebrate longer, active lives and companies are developing elder-focused products - from powered exoskeletons to auto-focusing eyewear - to support mobility and independence.

That longevity compounds a demographic crisis: Japan’s fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14 last year and the population is projected to shrink to about 87 million by 2070, with those 65+ rising from roughly 30% now to nearly 40%. Authorities warn of strain on social security as births lag despite subsidies, marriage rates fall and childcare costs rise; immigration remains low at about 3% and politically contentious. Past audits have also exposed registry errors - more than 230,000 people were once listed as centenarians but were unaccounted for - highlighting administrative challenges as the country prepares its annual Respect for the Aged celebrations.