Ageing gracefully in Japan looks nothing like the slow decline many people expect from old age. Instead, some of the country’s oldest citizens are setting world records, climbing mountains and building online followings well into their 80s, 90s and beyond.
Japan already has one of the oldest populations in the world. Yet, rather than slowing down, many of its elderly citizens are challenging what society expects from ageing.
How ageing gracefully in Japan looks in practice
Mieko Nagaoka took up swimming in her 80s to recover from a knee injury she suffered while practising Noh, a traditional form of Japanese theatre. By the time she turned 100, she had set a world record swimming 1,500 metres in a 25-metre pool.
She even published a book about her achievement, titled “I’m 100 years old and the world’s best active swimmer.
Nagaoka is not alone. Hidekichi Miyazaki, nicknamed the “Golden Bolt,” only began running competitively in his 90s. At 105, he set a world record for the 100m sprint in his age category, though he remained unsatisfied with his performance.
“I’m not happy with the time,” he said afterwards, reflecting the same competitive drive that seems to fuel many of Japan’s super-aged citizens.
The competitive spirit behind long, active lives
Alpinist Yuichiro Miura offers another example. He became the oldest person to summit Mount Everest at 70, then broke his own record again at 75 and 80.
In 2019, at age 86, Miura attempted to climb and ski down Aconcagua in South America. However, his doctor ordered him to stop partway up due to the risk of heart failure at high altitude.
Rather than giving up entirely, Miura said he still hoped to attempt Everest again at 90. This refusal to accept limits appears often among Japan’s most active seniors.
Meanwhile, not every example involves extreme sport. Kimiko Nishimoto built an Instagram following of more than 200,000 people in her 90s through her photography, despite admitting to drinking bourbon and smoking cigarettes daily.
Her case suggests that no single diet or habit fully explains healthy ageing.
Staying independent without becoming a burden
According to researchers, a cultural concept called “meiwaku,” which discourages placing a burden on others, plays a major role in keeping Japanese seniors independent. This mindset motivates many older citizens to remain employed, active in hobbies and socially engaged rather than relying heavily on family.
Practices such as calligraphy, ikebana flower arranging, music, dance and school volunteering remain popular among Japan’s elderly. In many communities, seniors organise these programmes themselves.
Researcher Yuko Oguma has also pointed to exercise as a key factor. She notes that even light activity, such as stretching or walking, benefits both cognitive function and social wellbeing.
Additionally, Oguma highlights growing evidence that muscles can still strengthen in old age, contradicting earlier assumptions that muscle loss is unavoidable.
What Japan’s example means for other countries
Japan’s experience shows that ageing gracefully in Japan is not built on one single secret. Instead, it combines physical activity, social connection, cultural attitudes and a refusal to give up on personal goals.
As more countries face ageing populations, Japan’s example offers a useful case study. Therefore, policymakers and individuals elsewhere may find value in encouraging the same mix of movement, purpose and community that keeps many Japanese seniors thriving well into old age.
Source: BBC
