The number of centenarians in Japan rose to a record 86,510 for the first time, the government data showed on Tuesday.

The number of male centenarians in Japan rose past 10,000, rising continuously for 51 years, the country’s Kyodo News Agency reported citing Health Ministry data.

Japan is battling an aging population mainly due to enhanced medical and social infrastructure developments in the country.

The data showed the number of centenarians rose by 6,060 from a year earlier.

Japan has marked Sept. 20 every year as a holiday to express “Respect for the Aged” in the country.

The ministry also revealed women made up at least 88.4% of the total 86,510, up 5,475 from a year earlier and men totaled 10,060, up 585.

Then Japanese government began a survey of centenarians in 1961 when it found only 153 people above 100.

The western province of Shimane has the highest number of centenarians, followed by Kochi and Kagoshima provinces.

Meanwhile, a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office said the number of COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 1.7 million, including 16,846 deaths.

Data released by the government also showed that more than 50% of the country’s 126 million people have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Close to 64 million people have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday./agencies