Nearly 100 Thousand Japanese Age 1 Century, This Is The Secret Of A Healthy Lifestyle

JAKARTA - A long life of up to 100 years may sound impossible for some people. But in Japan, the number of people who reach that age continues to grow every year.

The Japanese government announced that the number of people aged 100 years or older has set a new record, which is nearly 100 thousand people.

Reporting from the BBC website, according to data from the Japanese Ministry of Health as of September this year there were 99,763 people aged 100 years and over.

This figure marks a new record for 55 consecutive years. Of these, women dominate with a portion reaching 88 percent.

Japan is known as the country with the longest life expectancy in the world, as well as often the residence of the oldest person in the world. Even so, several studies had doubts about the accuracy of the number of centenrians (as they are 100 years old and over) globally.

Japanese Health Minister, Takaaro Fukoka congratulated the elderly who had reached this special age.

"I express my gratitude for their contribution over the years in community development," he said.

This data was released ahead of National Elderly Day on September 15, the annual holiday in Japan. In this tradition, residents who are only 100 years old will receive a letter of congratulations and a silver cup from the prime minister. This year, 52,310 people meet these requirements.

The surge in the number of centenrians in Japan is striking compared to decades ago. When the government started a survey in 1963, there were only 153 people aged 100 years or older. This figure increased to 1,000 people in 1981, then reached 10 thousand people in 1998. Now the number is almost 100 times larger.

The increase in life expectancy in Japan is mainly attributed to the low mortality rate due to heart disease and general cancer such as breast cancer and prostate. The obesity rate in Japan is also low, thanks to a diet rich in fish and vegetables and low in red meat.

Especially for women, the very low level of obesity is believed to be one of the reasons why they have a longer life expectancy than men.

Healthy And Active Lifestyle

In addition to diet, the Japanese lifestyle also plays an important role. Elderly people in Japan tend to stay active, walk more often and use public transportation.

Since 1928, Japan has had a tradition of Radio Taiso, three-minute morning exercise which is broadcast nationally and carried out in groups in the community. This activity not only maintains health, but also strengthens social ties.