Japan's oldest living person Fuyo Kishimoto (C) is pictured with relatives in Kyoto, western Japan, on Sept. 10, 2026. (Kyodo)

TOKYO - The number of people aged 100 or older in Japan reached a record high of 107,677 in September, climbing for the 56th consecutive year, health ministry data showed Tuesday.

The total number of centenarians grew by 7,914 from the previous year, surpassing the 100,000 threshold for the first time. Women made up 87.6 percent of the cohort with 94,298 people, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said.

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