#Societalchange

Japan’s centenarian population has climbed to a record nearly 100,000 people, with women accounting for about 88% of that group. As of early September, the health ministry counted 99,763 people aged 100 or older, up by more than 4,600 from the previous year. The milestone underscores a broader demographic shift: people are living longer, birth rates remain low, and the nation is rapidly aging. The country’s oldest living person is 114 years old, a reminder that longevity is becoming a defining feature of modern societies. Observers say this isn’t just a curiosity about long lives; it signals a quiet emergency with real implications for health systems, economies, families, and social norms.

Recent discourse has illuminated the challenges boys face, sparked by the cultural impact of Netflix’s “Adolescence.” Yet, beneath the sensational headlines, new insights reveal that girls are battling their own pervasive crises. The focus on boys’ difficulties risks overshadowing significant issues affecting girls across the globe, particularly in mental health. As the Children’s Commissioner for England warns, framing this as a contest between genders could be detrimental to both sides of the divide.