Japanese centenarians tops 40,000 for first time

The number of centenarians has topped 40,000 for the first time in Japan, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced on Friday.
As of Sept. 15, there will be 40,399 centenarians across Japan, up 4,123 from the previous high of 36,276 in 2008, in the largest yearly growth on record.
The vast majority of centenarians are women: 86.5 percent at 34,952, while men numbered 5,447. The percentage of female centenarians has been on a yearly rise, according to the ministry.
The oldest man in Japan is Jirouemon Kimura, a 112-year-old resident of Kyotango, Kyoto Prefecture, while the oldest woman is a 114-year-old resident of Okinawa Prefecture, whose name is being withheld.

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