The Asahi Shimbun

Centenarians in Japan exceed 100,000 for the first time ever

The Straits Times

Japan centenarian population surpasses 100,000 as welfare costs rise

Japan now has more than 100,000 people who are 100 or older

For the first time, Japan has more than 100,000 centenarians

BBC News

More than 100,000 people in Japan are now 100 years of age or older

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan

Regarding the presentation of congratulatory letters and commemorative gifts to centenarians in fiscal year 2026.

The Washington Post

Japan can teach the world a better way to age

Falling birth rates don’t have to be a crisis. Just look at Japan.

The Japan Times

A bleak prognosis for Japans demographic future

Asia Times

Japans birth crisis is a leadership failure

Nikkei Asia

Japan budget requests for next fiscal year hit record $918bn

Elon Musk

Hiroshi Yoshida

Roos van Keulen

Chris Weller

Nippon.Com

Chay Bowes

Aaron Bastani


Jared Taylor

John Davis, LL.M

The Guardian

Japan "could effectively disappear by 2200 as a nation."

In 700 years, "there will be no more Japanese."

"Japan will perish by about 2056 because men are refusing to have intimate relationships with the women."

"The country's population will be just 500 by the year 3000, and just one by 3500."

"Within the next 1,750 years, the Japanese people could be no more."

"Japan may become the first country to become extinct due to the declining birth rate."

Will Japan's Population Go Extinct?

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on Tuesday that the number of residents aged 100 or older reached 107,677 as of September 15, surpassing 100,000 for the first time and up 7,914 from the previous year.

Sanae Takaichi

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on Tuesday that the number of residents aged 100 or older reached 107,677 as of September 15, surpassing 100,000 for the first time and up 7,914 from the previous year.

Official statistics show that women made up roughly 88% of Japan's centenarians, or 94,298 people, while men numbered 13,379. The figures marked a record high for the age group for the 56th consecutive year.

Official statistics show that women made up roughly 88% of Japan's centenarians, or 94,298 people, while men numbered 13,379. The figures marked a record high for the age group for the 56th consecutive year.

The ministry also recognized Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, as Japan's oldest woman, and 112-year-old Hikaru Kato, of Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan, as the country's oldest man.

The ministry also recognized Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, as Japan's oldest woman, and 112-year-old Hikaru Kato, of Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan, as the country's oldest man.

When surveys began in 1963 under the Elderly Welfare Act, Japan counted 153 centenarians. The total then passed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012 before reaching 107,677 this year.

When surveys began in 1963 under the Elderly Welfare Act, Japan counted 153 centenarians. The total then passed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012 before reaching 107,677 this year.

At a press conference, Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was pleased that so many people were living long, healthy and active lives, citing medical advances, diet and lifestyle, but stressed the need to maintain a sustainable social security system.

At a press conference, Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was pleased that so many people were living long, healthy and active lives, citing medical advances, diet and lifestyle, but stressed the need to maintain a sustainable social security system.

The remarks come as the health ministry requested nearly 33.6 trillion yen for pensions and medical care in the next fiscal year's budget, nearly a quarter of the 143 trillion yen sought across ministries, as Japan's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14.

The remarks come as the health ministry requested nearly 33.6 trillion yen for pensions and medical care in the next fiscal year's budget, nearly a quarter of the 143 trillion yen sought across ministries, as Japan's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14.

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Japan's health ministry reported Tuesday that the number of residents aged 100 or older reached 107,677 as of Sept. 15, passing 100,000 for the first time and rising by 7,914 from the previous year.

Japan's health ministry reported Tuesday that the number of residents aged 100 or older reached 107,677 as of Sept. 15, passing 100,000 for the first time and rising by 7,914 from the previous year.

Women made up about 88% of Japan's centenarians, or 94,298 people, while men numbered 13,379. The figure marked a record high for the 56th consecutive year, according to ministry data.

Women made up about 88% of Japan's centenarians, or 94,298 people, while men numbered 13,379. The figure marked a record high for the 56th consecutive year, according to ministry data.

Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, was recognized as Japan's oldest woman, while the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, 112, of Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan, the health ministry said.

Fuyo Kishimoto, a 114-year-old resident of Kyoto, was recognized as Japan's oldest woman, while the oldest man is Hikaru Kato, 112, of Kumamoto Prefecture in southern Japan, the health ministry said.

Japan counted 153 centenarians when its survey began in 1963 under the Elderly Welfare Act. The total passed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012 before reaching 107,677 this year.

Japan counted 153 centenarians when its survey began in 1963 under the Elderly Welfare Act. The total passed 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998 and 50,000 in 2012 before reaching 107,677 this year.

Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was pleased that many people are living long, healthy and active lives, citing medical advances, diet and lifestyle, while noting the need to maintain a sustainable social security system.

Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said he was pleased that many people are living long, healthy and active lives, citing medical advances, diet and lifestyle, while noting the need to maintain a sustainable social security system.

The health ministry requested about 33.7 trillion yen for pensions and medical care in next fiscal year's budget, nearly a quarter of the 143 trillion yen sought across ministries, as Japan's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14.

The health ministry requested about 33.7 trillion yen for pensions and medical care in next fiscal year's budget, nearly a quarter of the 143 trillion yen sought across ministries, as Japan's fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14.

Japan's shrinking population is a slow-motion disaster that decades of weak incentives and empty campaigns have done nothing to stop. Births keep hitting record lows, the workforce keeps shrinking and the burden on young workers keeps growing while leaders cling to outdated assumptions about work and family. Fixing the crushing work culture, the cost of raising kids and the closed-door immigration stance is the only way out.

Japan's shrinking population is a slow-motion disaster that decades of weak incentives and empty campaigns have done nothing to stop. Births keep hitting record lows, the workforce keeps shrinking and the burden on young workers keeps growing while leaders cling to outdated assumptions about work and family. Fixing the crushing work culture, the cost of raising kids and the closed-door immigration stance is the only way out.

Panic over Japan's baby bust misses what the numbers actually show: a tight labor market lifting wages, record corporate profits and real investment in productivity. Cash-for-kids schemes have flopped everywhere because subsidies cannot outbid modern values, so the smarter play is adapting — better transit, preventive care and dignity for older people who still contribute. Aging well beats chasing a birth rate that isn't coming back.

Panic over Japan's baby bust misses what the numbers actually show: a tight labor market lifting wages, record corporate profits and real investment in productivity. Cash-for-kids schemes have flopped everywhere because subsidies cannot outbid modern values, so the smarter play is adapting — better transit, preventive care and dignity for older people who still contribute. Aging well beats chasing a birth rate that isn't coming back.

More than 100,000 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older

Japan

Seniors

Social conditions & trends

Japan's shrinking and aging population is a slow-motion disaster that decades of weak incentives and empty campaigns have done nothing to stop. Births keep hitting record lows, the workforce keeps shrinking and the burden on young workers keeps growing while leaders cling to outdated assumptions about work and family. Fixing the crushing work culture, the cost of raising kids and the closed-door immigration stance is the only way out.

Japan's shrinking and aging population is a slow-motion disaster that decades of weak incentives and empty campaigns have done nothing to stop. Births keep hitting record lows, the workforce keeps shrinking and the burden on young workers keeps growing while leaders cling to outdated assumptions about work and family. Fixing the crushing work culture, the cost of raising kids and the closed-door immigration stance is the only way out.

Panic over Japan's demographics misses what the numbers actually show: a tight labor market lifting wages, record corporate profits and real investment in productivity. Cash-for-kids schemes have flopped everywhere because subsidies cannot outbid modern values, so the smarter play is adaptation — better transit, preventive care and dignity for older people who still contribute. Aging well beats chasing a birth rate that isn't coming back.

Panic over Japan's demographics misses what the numbers actually show: a tight labor market lifting wages, record corporate profits and real investment in productivity. Cash-for-kids schemes have flopped everywhere because subsidies cannot outbid modern values, so the smarter play is adaptation — better transit, preventive care and dignity for older people who still contribute. Aging well beats chasing a birth rate that isn't coming back.

Japan's Centenarians Top 100,000 for First Time

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