More than 100,000 people in Japan are now aged 100 or older

Japan’s population of people aged 100 and above has exceeded 100,000 for the first time, reaching 107,677 centenarians, according to the health ministry. Around 88% are women. The oldest woman is Kishimoto Fuyo, aged 114, from Kyoto City, while the oldest man is Kato Hikaru, aged 112, from Kumamoto. Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno welcomed the increase, highlighting improvements in medicine and technology. Experts also point to Japan’s healthy diet, which includes fish, vegetables, and rice, as well as an active lifestyle involving walking, cycling, stretching, and using public transportation.

However, Japan faces challenges because its population is aging and its birth rate is declining. In the previous year, the country’s total fertility rate fell to a record low of 1.14 children per woman, below the 2.1 average needed to replace the population. Japan’s population is projected to fall from its peak of 128 million in 2008 to 87 million by 2070. People aged 65 and older currently make up around 30% of the population, and this figure is expected to reach nearly 40% by 2070. The government has introduced programs and financial support to encourage people to have more children, but these efforts have not significantly increased birth rates.

Experts say the declining birth rate is linked to several factors, including lower marriage rates, more women joining the workforce, and the rising cost of raising children. Although immigration has increased, foreign residents make up only around 3% of Japan’s population, and opposition to accepting more immigrants has grown. Japan has also developed products to support older people, including powered exoskeletons and adjustable-focus eyewear. However, questions have been raised about the accuracy of centenarian records. In 2010, a government audit found more than 230,000 people listed as being 100 or older who could not be accounted for. Some records involved people who had died years earlier, highlighting problems with record-keeping and possible pension fraud.

Edited using generative AI tools. 
Source:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cmzezj5e18xxo

Comprehension

How many centenarians does Japan have, according to the health ministry?
What are two lifestyle factors that experts associate with the long lives of Japanese people?
What was Japan’s total fertility rate in the previous year?
What percentage of Japan’s population is expected to be aged 65 or older by 2070?
What problem did the Japanese government discover during its 2010 audit of family registries?

Discussion

What do you think is the secret to living a long and healthy life?
What healthy foods do you usually eat?
How often do you exercise or walk?
Would you like to live to be 100 years old? Why or why not?
What activities can older people do to stay healthy and active?
Why do you think some people today choose to have fewer children?
What challenges might people face when taking care of elderly family members?
What can the government do to help older people live comfortably?

Vocabulary

Centenarian – a person who is 100 years old or older.
Sustainable – able to continue for a long time without causing serious problems.
Predominantly – mostly or mainly.
Fertility rate – the average number of children born per woman in a population.
Subsidy – money provided by the government to help pay for something.
Existential crisis – a serious situation that threatens the continued existence of something.
Immigration – the act of moving to another country to live there.
Audit – an official examination of records or accounts to check their accuracy.