Japan’s newest demographic milestone ~ nearly one hundred thousand people aged a hundred or more ~ is more than a statistic. It is a window into a future that many societies will soon face: a world where human longevity grows faster than our ability to adapt to it. What was once a marvel of medicine and culture has now become an unavoidable test of economics, social policy, and intergenerational responsibility.

The first lesson is that long life is not an accident. Japan’s achievement rests on decades of deliberate choices: a national diet low in red meat and rich in fish and vegetables, an enduring public-health drive to cut salt, and a culture that prizes daily movement. Simple routines like group calisthenics in parks, walking to markets, and relying on public transport keep older citizens physically active and socially engaged. These habits have lowered rates of obesity,........

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