Kathmandu. Japan has a unique record in terms of its ageing population.
According to the Japanese government, the number of people in the country aged 100 years or older has reached about 100,000. Japan’s health ministry said on Friday that the number of centenarians in Japan reached 99,763 in September for the 55th consecutive year, setting a new record. Of this total, 88 percent are women. ’
Japan has one of the longest life spans in the world. Japan is home to the world’s oldest living people. There are different claims about the actual number of people living for 100 years around the world. Many studies have questioned this number. Despite some questions, Japan comes out on top in terms of living longer.
The oldest person in Japan is 114-year-old Shigeko Kagawa. She is a resident of Yamatokoriyama, Nara City, Chicago. The oldest male is 111-year-old Kiyotaka Mizuno from the coastal city of Iwata. Japan’s Health Minister Takamaro Fukuoka has congratulated 87,784 women and 11,979 men who have turned 100 years old.
The data was released ahead of Japan’s Senior Citizens Day, September 15. September 15 is a national holiday in Japan. On this day, the new century (person who has completed 100 years) is given a congratulatory letter and a silver cup by the Prime Minister. This year, 52,310 people have become eligible for it.
In the 1960s, Japan’s proportion of people over the age of 100 was the lowest among all G7 countries. The situation changed rapidly in the decades that followed. When the Japanese government launched the Centennial Survey in 1963, there were 153 people aged 100 or older. This number increased to 1,000 in 1981 and 10,000 in 1998.
The main reason for Japan’s high life expectancy is the low mortality rate from heart disease and common types of cancer, especially breast and prostate cancer. Obesity rates in Japan are low. Which is the main cause of both diseases. Obesity rates are especially low among women. This makes the life expectancy of Japanese women higher than that of men.
According to a BBC report, the amount of sugar and salt has increased in the rest of the world in the last decade. In addition, Japan has successfully persuaded people to reduce their salt intake through public health messages. In addition to diet, Japanese are active in old age. People there walk and use public transport more than the elderly in the United States and Europe.
Daily group exercise and radio taisho have been an integral part of Japanese culture since 1928. It was established to promote a sense of community as well as public health. The three-minute program is broadcast on television. It is practiced in small community groups across the country. It’s the secret to longevity in Japan.
