The number of centenarians in Japan has exceeded 95,000, setting a record high for the 54th consecutive year. According to the health and welfare ministry, based on the Basic Resident Register as of September 1, there are 95,119 people aged 100 or older, an increase of 2,980 from the previous year. Women make up the majority of this group, accounting for 83,958 centenarians, while men total 11,161.
Among the centenarians, the oldest woman is Itooka Tomiko from Ashiya City in Hyogo Prefecture, who is 116 years old. The oldest man is Mizuno Kiyotaka from Iwata City in Shizuoka Prefecture, who is 110 years old. By prefecture, Shimane has the highest proportion of centenarians, with 159.5 per 100,000 people, maintaining its top position for the 12th consecutive year. Shimane is followed by Kochi and Kagoshima.
In contrast, Saitama has the lowest proportion of centenarians, with 45.8 per 100,000 people, a position it has held for the 35th straight year, followed by Aichi and Chiba. The number of centenarians in Japan has seen significant growth over the decades, from just 153 in 1963, surpassing 1,000 in 1981, and first exceeding 10,000 in 1998.
