Japan's centenarian population hits record 60,000

Yep. Some men I know have spent more years on pension than as working taxpayers! And as for the women ... well, a lot of them have never actually paid income tax in their life.

That's insane! Although it's great to see so many people being able to live to ages that would have been science fiction only half a century ago

You live longer if you never worked in your life ~ or worked in a stressful environment ~

Hats off to each of them! How much credit for their long lives should be given to the Japanese diet (choice of food diet)?

If they've earned the right to pensions and have followed the rules, more power to them. These people lived through the Pacific War, and I have to assume that most endured hardships most of us can never know and contributed to their families and culture in many ways throughout their lives.

It would be nice to think they're being treated with the dignity they deserve, and not viewed as drains on resources.

my wallet just shivered thinking about how much this is going to cost me. years ago aso proposed a "hurry-up-and-die" scheme. i think politicians right now might be revisiting his scheme.

I thought the "Respect for the aged" day had been changed from the 15th to the 20th ?

(Some women have worked all their lives and I don't mean only "housework"...)

You live longer if you never worked in your life ~ or worked in a stressful environment ~

And most of these 100-year-old women never smoked like a chimney or drank like a fish or ate junk food nearly every day. Future governments might not need to purchase so many silver sake dishes (or their tight-fisted alternatives). BTW, all of the present-day centurions lived through the extremely stressful pre-war, war and post-war years in Japan.

Simply put although genes do play a role in becoming a centenarian it seems lifestyle is the biggest contributor and the secret to longevity so why not learn some lifestyle lessons from wise and gentle people of Okinawa.

BTW, all of the present-day centurions lived through the extremely stressful pre-war, war and post-war years in Japan.

I didn't know they still existed in this day and age!

Teresa: 100 years old means they had about 30 years of experience of life before democracy came to Japan. Haikyu for government controled rationed food, many Kushu keihou ( B 29 sir raid alert ), Kokumin Kaihei (any man who were 16 were drafted for Army) so men has childhood army harsh life with eating little bit food twice a day.

women boast the world's longest life expectancy of 86.83 years

I don't think it is necessarily something to boast about. Let's face it, often they're neglected and become burdensome. Even when thrown into elderly homes / hospitals, families don't visit often.

On the news recently, a nurse was verbally and physically abusing a japanese old women in one of those homes. The entire incident caught on camera too.

6,000,000 years' worth of life. A lot of interesting stories there.

Based on a few recent news stories, I would guess that a significant number of these centenarians have been dead for many years and their bodies quietly disposed of so that family members can continue to claim their pensions. Ward and city offices should have a system of regular visits to anyone over 90.

@AlanSEP. 12, 2015 - 06:14AM JST Based on a few recent news stories, I would guess that a significant number of these centenarians have been dead for many years and their bodies quietly disposed of so that family members can continue to claim their pensions. Ward and city offices should have a system of regular visits to anyone over 90.

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You mean they searched land to bury body and spent plenty money to ship to tare dosou place ( no cremation burying) to receive dingy pension avoiding inexpensive cremation locally?

In Japan, busybodies visit old people periodically to make sure they are taken care of and old people keep family assers not siblings