THE number of people aged 100 and above in Japan has exceeded 80,000 for the first time, the Anadolu Agency reported according to local media.

“The number of centenarians rose 9,176 from the previous year to 80,450 as of today for the 50th consecutive yearly increase, with women accounting for 88.2% of the total,” the Kyodo News Agency said, citing the data released by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry.

Shimane Prefecture in western Japan has the highest number of centenarians per 100,000 people – 127.60 – for the eighth straight year, followed by Kochi and Tottori with 119.77 and 109.89, respectively, the agency reported.

“Japan’s average life expectancy was 87.45 for women and 81.41 for men last year, both record highs, according to Health Ministry data released in July this year,” it said.

Kane Tanaka, 117-year-old from Fukuoka, southwestern Japan, is the oldest Japanese woman. Guinness World Records recognised her as the oldest living person in the world, the report said.

The survey started in 1963, and the number of centenarians has been increasing over the last 50 years. – Bernama, September 15, 2020.