• Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest person, passed away at 116 in Japan, a country known for high life expectancy.
• Despite high life expectancy, Japan faces a demographic crisis with a rapidly aging population and shrinking labor force.
• As of September 2024, Japan had over 95,000 centenarians, 88% of whom were women.
• The death of Itooka highlights the challenges of rising healthcare costs, a shrinking labor force, and increased traffic accidents involving older drivers.

The world recently bid farewell to Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman recognized as the world's oldest person, who passed away at the age of 116. Itooka's death, reported by Japanese media, occurred at a nursing home in the city of Ashiya in western Japan, where she had been residing. Born on May 23, 1908, in Osaka, Itooka was the eldest of three siblings. She was known for her love of lactic acid beverages and was often heard expressing her gratitude to the nursing home staff.

Itooka's longevity was not an isolated case in Japan, a country known for its high life expectancy. In 2020, the average life expectancy in Japan peaked at 87.71 years for women and 81.56 years for men. However, the following years saw a decrease due to the rising death toll from the coronavirus. It was only in 2023 that the average life expectancy rose again for the first time in three years, thanks to a decline in deaths from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The average life expectancy of women in Japan in 2023 was 87.14 years, up 0.05 from 2022, while for men it stood at 81.09, up 0.04. This increase in life expectancy, however, is set against a backdrop of a rapidly aging population and a shrinking labor force, presenting significant demographic challenges for the country.

Japan's Aging Population and Demographic Crisis

Itooka's passing marked the end of an era, as she had been recognized as the world's oldest living person by Guinness World Records in September 2024, following the death of the previous holder, Maria Branyas Morera, a 117-year-old from Olot, Catalonia, Spain. Before Itooka, the title of the oldest living person in Japan was held by Fusa Tatsumi, a 116-year-old from Kashiwara, Osaka Prefecture, who passed away in December 2023.

Despite the high life expectancy, Japan, like many other countries, is grappling with a demographic crisis. The country's aging population is leading to soaring medical and welfare costs, with a shrinking labor force to cover these expenses. As of September 2024, Japan had more than 95,000 people who were 100 or older, 88 percent of whom were women. This demographic shift is not unique to Japan. Other countries such as China, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan are experiencing similar challenges, struggling to encourage young people to have more children in the face of rising living costs and social discontent.

Road Safety Concerns Amid Aging Population

In addition to the demographic crisis, Japan is also dealing with a rise in traffic accidents and fatalities. For the first time in eight years, the number of traffic accidents and road fatalities in Japan increased in 2023. This increase was attributed to more drivers getting behind the wheel following the pandemic. The rise in traffic accidents and fatalities underscores the need for more effective road safety measures, particularly for older drivers who are more vulnerable to accidents.