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A rapid rise in the number of centenarians in Japan
The number of centenarians in Japan has soared this year. New statistics show a dramatic 15% rise in the group of people living to 100 and beyond. Out of an overall population of 127 million, there are now 20,561 Japanese men and women who have celebrated their hundredth birthday.
The figures, released for the national Respect for the Aged Day, are a source of great pride in Japan. The country has the world’s highest life expectancy, at 85 years for women and 78 for men.
Scientists have speculated for many years about the secret of long life expectancy among the Japanese population. The traditional diet, which is rich in fish, fruit and vegetables but low in fatty foods, seems to be a major factor in the nation’s longevity. Older people in Japan also continue with strict exercise regimes into their later years and benefit from the country’s excellent health care system.
Women account for 84% of all centenarians, which includes the world’s oldest living person, Kamato Hongo, from the southern Japanese island of Kyushu. Mrs Hongo was 116 on 16th September 2003 and celebrated her birthday with family and friends. Although she requires constant care and is slightly deaf, she is otherwise said to be in good health. Her body clock has now fallen into a pattern where she sleeps for two days at a time and then stays awake for two days
Mrs Hongo has 7 children, 27 grandchildren, 57 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She has already outlived her eldest daughter, who died three years ago in her 90s. She still enjoys drinking sake, Japanese rice wine, and uses her hands to perform the dances of her native island of Tokunoshima. Her overall recipe for long life is "not to worry too much".
The island of Kyushu was also home until recently to Yukichi Chuganji, the world’s oldest living man. Mr Chuganji died on 28th September 2003 aged 114. He seemed to disprove many of the dietary theories relating to longevity. When interviewed he claimed to hate vegetables and listed eating meat as one of his great passions in life. In spite of being bedridden, Mr Chuganji remained mentally alert and was able to chew toffee with his own full set of teeth.
Although the large number of centenarians is an important source of pride in Japan, there is growing concern that the elderly community is increasing much faster than the younger generation who must support them. The rapidly falling birth rate hit an all-time low last year of 1.35 births per woman, far lower than the 2.1 rate needed to replace the population.
Nearly a fifth of all Japanese people are now over 65. Estimates suggest that this figure will increase to one person over 65 for every two of working age by the year 2025. This would be a higher dependency ratio than any other major industrialized country and politicians are now becoming increasingly concerned about the prospect of a crippling health care and pension burden in the future.
Some commentators in Japan have blamed these population trends for the country’s protracted economic difficulties. Worried business leaders have suggested increasing the number of immigrants in order to enlarge the workforce while the government has shown a preference for increasing the retirement age.
Although the current trends in Japan appear unusual, they provide a window on life in the future. Other industrialized countries such as the UK, France and the US are beginning to mirror these population changes. Over the next decade politicians from around the world will be keenly watching Japan to see how it deals with the sharp rise in the proportion of older citizens.
Reading comprehension
1 Read the article. Decide if these sentences are true [T] or false [F].
- There has been a big increase in the number of Japanese people over the age of 100.
- Japan has the second highest life expectancy in the industrialized world.
- A traditional Japanese diet is low in fat but high in fruit, vegetables and fish.
- Kamato Hongo, aged 116, is the oldest living person in the world.
- Kamato Hongo is usually asleep for short periods of time.
- Yukichi Chuganji always ate a traditional Japanese diet.
- The birth rate in Japan is decreasing quickly.
- Estimates suggest that by 2025 there will be two people over 65 for every person of working age.
- Business leaders want fewer people from overseas to come and work in Japan.
- Other nations in the industrialized world have similar population trends to Japan.
Vocabulary work
Exercise 1: Find the word or phrase
Here are some OALD definitions of words used in the first three paragraphs of the text. Find the words or phrases they describe.
- a person who is 100 years old or more
- sudden, very great and often surprising
- the number of years that a person is likely to live
- the food that you eat and drink regularly
- containing or providing a large supply of something
- long life; the fact of lasting a long time
Exercise 2: Dictionary work
Look at the following words from paragraphs four, five and six of the article. Decide which sense of the entry in OALD gives the meaning of the word in this text.
- celebrated (celebrate) – paragraph 4 sense 1: to show that a day or an event is important by doing something special on it
- care – paragraph 4
- stay – paragraph 4
- recipe – paragraph 5
- native – paragraph 5
- passions (passion) – paragraph 6
Exercise 3: Deducing meaning from context
Look back at these words in the context of paragraphs seven, eight, nine and ten. What do you think they mean? Check your ideas with the dictionary.
- all-time – paragraph 7
- crippling – paragraph 8
- burden – paragraph 8
- protracted – paragraph 9
- enlarge – paragraph 9
- mirror – paragraph 10