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Japan has surpassed a record 100,000 centenarians this year, with 107,677 people aged 100 or older, up from last year's count. The health ministry attributes this growth to medical advancements, healthy lifestyles, and diets but also highlights the challenges of an aging population for social security systems. As part of Respect the Aged Day on September 15th, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi honors centenarians with letters and gifts, while addressing the broader concerns about Japan’s declining birth rate and aging demographics.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The number of 107,677 centenarians (people aged 100 or older) in Japan surpassed 100,000 for the first time, making Japan home to the highest number of centenarians globally. Of these, 88% are women, with the oldest being Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old from Kyoto City, and the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, aged 112, from Kumamoto. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno celebrated this milestone, attributing it to advancements in medicine and technology as well as healthier lifestyles and diets. However, he also highlighted the challenges Japan faces in sustaining its social security system amid an aging population; residents over 65 already make up around 30% of the country's population, expected to rise to nearly 40% by 2070.
Written for “Japanese Centenarians Record” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 13979 · logged 2026-09-16
The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan surpassed a record 100,000 this year, the latest government figures show, underscoring the country’s rapidly aging and declining population.
asserted
figures → age → population
The Health and Welfare Ministry statistics released Tuesday show Japan now has 107,677 centenarians, up 7,914 from the previous year and exceeding the 100,000 mark for the first time.
asserted
Japan → release → time
Kyoto resident Fuyo Kishimoto was recently recognized as the oldest Japanese woman at age 114.
asserted
Kishimoto → recognize → age
The figures were released to mark this year’s Sept. 15 Respect the Aged day, when healthy and active centenarians are honored by the government with a letter from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and a silver sake cup.
asserted
centenarians → release → Takaichi
“I’m very pleased that many people are living a long, healthy and active lives,” Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno told reporters Tuesday, citing progress in medical technology, healthy lifestyle and diet as contributing factors.
asserted
Ueno → ’m → factors
Ueno noted the importance of maintaining a sustainable social security system as the population continues to age and decline.
asserted
population → note → system
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research last week released the results of a survey indicating more than 20% of both men and women who are single and aged between 18 and 34 have no intention of ever marrying, with nearly half saying they see no benefit in marriage.
asserted
they → release → marriage
Ueno acknowledged the reasons for marriage reluctance among young people include the high costs of raising and educating children and the mental and physical burden on working parents.
asserted
reasons → acknowledge → parents
He said the government will continue addressing their concerns and attempt to turn around problems related to Japan’s aging population and dwindling births.
asserted
government → say → population
Japan’s drastic population decline is inevitable, experts say, noting the country’s total fertility rate dropped to a record low 1.14 in 2025, far below the 2.1 children needed to be born to each Japanese woman to maintain the current population.
asserted
rate → say → population
Japan’s total population during the 2020 census stood at 126 million, almost 30% of which were 65 or older.
asserted
% → stand → which
Experts estimate there will be a decline to 87 million by 2070 with nearly 40% aged 65 or older, according to the national institute.
uncertain
% → estimate → institute
There were 153 people aged 100 or older in Japan when centenarian surveys began in 1963.
asserted
surveys → be → 1963
They exceeded 1,000 in 1981 and surpassed 10,000 in 1998, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry.
uncertain
They → exceed → Ministry
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