Japan has made history as the number of centenarians in the country has surpassed 100,000 for the first time, reaching a total of 107,677 individuals aged 100 and older, according to data released by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on September 15, 2026. This marks a significant increase from the mere 153 centenarians recorded when data collection began in 1963.

The growth of the centenarian population has been steady since 1970, when there were only 310 individuals aged 100 and above. The numbers have continued to rise, surpassing 1,000 in 1981, 10,000 in 1998, and 50,000 in 2012. This year alone, 7,914 new centenarians have joined the ranks, marking the 56th consecutive year of growth in this demographic.

Of the total centenarians, 94,298, or approximately 87.6%, are women. The oldest woman in Japan is 115-year-old Fuyo Kishimoto from Kyoto, born on December 20, 1911, while the oldest man is 112-year-old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto, born on May 2, 1914.

The statistics were compiled based on a government survey as of September 1. Japan, with a median age of 49.9 years, is the second oldest country in the world, following Monaco. The average number of centenarians per 100,000 people in Japan is 87.51. The average life expectancy in Japan is 87.33 years for women and 81.35 years for men.

This remarkable increase in the centenarian population reflects not only advancements in healthcare and living conditions but also highlights the importance of healthy lifestyles among the elderly in Japan.