Japan now has nearly 100,000 centenarians or older, most of whom are women, and that number is clearly on the rise and has reached record levels, according to Japanese government figures released today.

The figure comes as confirmation of the ageing Japanese population that is afflicting the world’s fourth largest economy, and at a time when its population is declining. As of September 1, Japan had 99,763 centenarians, that’s 4,644 more than a year ago, with 88% of them being women, the Japanese health ministry specified in a statement.

The position of the oldest person in the archipelago is held by Sigeko Kagawa, who is 114 years old and lives in Nara Prefecture, near Kyoto. She remained active after 80 years of service as a gynecologist-midwife and general practitioner, according to the ministry.

“Walking a lot on house calls allowed me to acquire strong legs, these are the source of my current vitality,” Kagawa says. As her eyesight remains good, the superannuated can spend her days watching TV, reading the newspaper and doing calligraphy.

The world’s oldest person is Britain’s Ethel Catterham, who celebrated her 116th birthday in August, a few months after Brazil’s Ina Canabaro Lucas died at the age of 116.

Japan is facing a demographic crisis that continues to worsen: the growing elderly population is leading to skyrocketing medical and social spending while there is a shrinking workforce to fund it, as the birth rate remains low.

According to official figures released in August, Japan’s population is on track for a record decline – estimated at more than 900,000 people – in 2024.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, now under resignation, had at the time called the situation a “silent scourge” and pledged favourable measures for families, such as more flexible working hours and free childcare services, in an attempt to reverse the trend.

The authorities’ efforts have still not yielded significant results for the time being.