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Japan Reports Record 107,677 Centenarians, 56th Straight Rise

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 2:55 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Japan Records Centenarian Surge

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported a record 107,677 centenarians.
The total rose by 7,914 from the previous year, marking the 56th consecutive increase.
Women comprised 87.6% of centenarians, amounting to 94,298 individuals.
Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is Japan’s oldest woman.
Hikaru Kato, 112, is the country’s oldest man.

Summary

Japan Boosts Healthcare Funding

The health ministry requested ¥33.7 trillion for pensions and medical care, a quarter of ¥143 trillion total requests.
Japan projects needing 2.4 million healthcare workers by 2026, up from 2.1 million in 2024.
Foreign-care worker visas covered about 66,000 staff in 2025, with plans to raise the cap to 160,700.
The government tightened skilled-worker visa rules amid rising anti-foreigner sentiment.
Shrinking tax revenues and rising pension costs force trade-offs with defence and growth spending.

History

Historical Context

In 2000 Japan introduced a mandatory long-term care insurance system, shifting responsibility for elder care from families to the state. Municipal governments act as insurers, financing the scheme through a mix of taxes, premiums (about 2 % of income for those over 40) and co-payments. The program set the foundation for today’s expanding senior-benefit policies and the fiscal pressures that accompany Japan’s rapidly aging population.

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Japan Records Centenarian Surge

Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare reported a record 107,677 centenarians.
The total rose by 7,914 from the previous year, marking the 56th consecutive increase.
Women comprised 87.6% of centenarians, amounting to 94,298 individuals.
Fuyo Kishimoto, 114, is Japan’s oldest woman.
Hikaru Kato, 112, is the country’s oldest man.

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