Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Edition 196 | Item #1

It’s actually 107,677 centenarians in Japan, according to a report released last week by the Health and Welfare Ministry. This is the first time that any country has had more than 100,000 centenarians alive at any one time. Roughly 88% of the centenarians are women. This largely reflects the exceptional life expectancy of women in Japan, where median life expectancy for women is now a bit over 90. The numbers also represent an exponential growth in the number of centenarians in Japan. In 1964, there were only 148 centenarians in the entire country.

Why are there so many centenarians in Japan? Many reasons, but let’s focus on one: the respect for older generations that can be found throughout Japanese society. The data was released by the Japanese government on September 15, which is also Keiro no Hi, a national holiday loosely translated as “Respect for the Aged Day.” It’s a serious national event where stores close and people travel across the country to be with their parents, grandparents, and other close elderly connections. It reflects the significant role that older people play in Japanese society and as we know from the research of Becca Levy at Yale, positive attitudes around aging can translate directly into healthy longevity. So a belated happy Keiro no Hi Day to all!