100歳以上の高齢者、初めて10万人を超える

Welcome to Japanese Daily News. I'm Maya. Today is September fifteenth. Japan's population aged one hundred or older has topped one hundred thousand for the first time ever. Let's listen.

Now let's break it down, sentence by sentence.

For the first time, the number of people aged one hundred or older has topped one hundred thousand nationwide.

It means to exceed — to go over a number.

That's up about seven thousand nine hundred from last year — a record high for the fifty-sixth straight year.

It means consecutive — in a row.

Women make up eighty-seven point six percent — about ninety-four thousand — while men number about thirteen thousand.

It means the whole, or the total.

The oldest woman in Japan is one hundred fourteen, living in Kyoto City.

It means advanced age — elderly.

The count passed fifty thousand in twenty twelve, and has roughly doubled in fourteen years.

It means approximately, or roughly.

Per one hundred thousand residents, Shimane Prefecture ranks highest for the fourteenth year running.

It means Japan's forty-seven prefectures.

People turning one hundred receive a congratulatory letter and a commemorative silver cup from the prime minister.

It means to present something — to give it as a gift.

Japan is one of the world's longest-lived countries, and the number is expected to keep growing.

It means an outlook, or forecast.

Let's listen to the whole story one more time.

Time for a short quiz. Listen and try to answer.

About one hundred seven thousand seven hundred — over one hundred thousand for the first time.

Eighty-seven point six percent.

Shimane Prefecture, for the fourteenth year in a row.

That's all for today. One hundred thousand centenarians, and still climbing — see you next time.