Number Of Japanese Centenarians To Hit Record High 58,820

Misao Okawa, 116, and 111-year-old Sakari Momoi are the oldest woman and man in Japan. (Asahi Shimbun file photos)

The number of centenarians in Japan is expected to hit a record 58,820 on Respect-for-the-Aged Day on Sept. 15, an increase of 4,423 from a year earlier, according to the welfare ministry, the Asahi Shimbun reports.

It will be the 44th consecutive yearly record since 1971, when 339 people were 100 years old or older, according to ministry statistics released on Sept. 12.

Women account for about 87 percent of the centenarians.

At 116 years old, Osaka’s Misao Okawa is not only the oldest person in Japan but also the oldest person on the planet, according to Guinness World Records.

Okawa, who lives in a nursing home, is known for her strong appetite, with one of her favorite dishes being sashimi. She uses her wheelchair several times a month.

Sakari Momoi, 111, a resident of Saitama, is the oldest man in Japan. He was recognized as the world’s oldest man in August by Guinness World Records.

He currently resides in a hospital but eats regular food and takes part in hospital events. Momoi communicates with others, sometimes through written messages.

The welfare ministry compiled the number of people expected to be 100 or older as of Sept. 15 based on resident registries.