Japan’s Centenarian Milestone: Over 100,000 Seniors Reach 100

For the first time in history, Japan’s tally of people aged a century or more has broken the six‑figure barrier. According to the latest Health and Welfare Ministry numbers released on Tuesday, there are now 107,677 centenarians living in the country—up by almost 8,000 from the year before.

It’s a striking figure, especially when you consider that nearly nine out of ten of those super‑seniors are women. The longest‑lived among them, 114‑year‑old Fuyo Kishimoto of Kyoto, has recently been honored as the nation’s oldest woman, while the oldest man, 112‑year‑old Hikaru Kato from Kumamoto, holds his own place in the record books.

The release was timed to coincide with September 15’s Respect the Aged Day, a holiday when the government hands out a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and a silver sake cup to active, healthy centenarians. “I’m very pleased that many people are living long, healthy, and active lives,” Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said at a press briefing, crediting advances in medical technology, a balanced diet and lifestyle choices.

Ueno was quick to point out, however, that a growing elderly demographic also means Japan must rethink its social‑security framework. The country’s population is shrinking fast, and the birthrate hit a record low of 1.14 children per woman in 2025—far below the 2.1 needed to keep the numbers steady.

That demographic pressure is showing up in the attitudes of younger Japanese. A recent survey by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research found that more than one‑fifth of single men and women aged 18‑34 say they have no intention of ever marrying, and almost half see little benefit in getting married at all. Ueno acknowledged the high costs of raising children and the strain on working parents as key reasons for the trend.

Experts warn that Japan’s total population, which stood at about 126 million in the 2020 census with roughly 30 % aged 65 or older, could fall to around 87 million by 2070. By then, almost 40 % of the populace may be seniors.

It’s a dramatic shift when you look back: the first centenarian surveys in 1963 counted just 153 people aged 100+. The number crossed 1,000 in 1981, broke 10,000 in 1998, and now—just a few decades later—has leapt past 100,000.

While the milestone is cause for celebration, it also underscores the urgent need for policies that can sustain a society where the old outnumber the young. The government says it will keep working on solutions, from encouraging child‑rearing to reshaping pension systems, but the road ahead looks anything but easy.