Japan is a country with a proud culture and technology, but it also has many facts and phenomena that are unbelievable to foreigners. In this article, we will introduce some amazing trivia about Japan’s population, pets, animals, movies, and more. By knowing these trivia, you may be able to understand Japan’s charm and characteristics better.
Japan’s Population Fact: There Are More Than 90,000 People Over 100 Years Old
Japan is well-known for its aging society, but among them, the number of elderly people over 100 years old is especially noteworthy. According to the announcement by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on September 16, 2022, before the “Respect for the Aged Day” (September 19), the number of elderly people over 100 years old in Japan reached a record high of 95,526. This number is about 592 times higher than the 153 people when the statistics started in 1963. Also, among the elderly people over 100 years old, women accounted for 88.6%, with 81,610 people, showing the remarkable longevity of women.
Japan is a “super longevity country” that is unparalleled in the world, but there may be various factors behind it, such as the improvement of medical and nursing care and living environment. However, there are also various challenges in an aging society. As life expectancy increases, there may be an increase in anxiety and loneliness in health and economic aspects. Also, combined with the declining birthrate, it will have a significant impact on social security systems and labor markets. Japan needs to seriously consider how to deal with these challenges in the future.
Pets vs Children: Due to the Declining Birthrate, There Are More Pets Than Children in Japan
Japan is facing a serious decline in birthrate, and the number of children born in 2020 was 848,320, which was the lowest ever. On the other hand, the number of dogs and cats kept as pets is increasing. As of 2020, it is estimated that there are about 7.05 million dogs and about 8.83 million cats kept nationwide, totaling about 15.88 million. In other words, there are more pets than children in Japan.
This phenomenon is related to the social movement called “pet boom”. The pet boom refers to the fact that it has become common to keep pets with deep affection as if they were family members. The pet boom started in the late 1990s, but there are various factors behind it. For example, the increase in loneliness due to nuclear family and aging, the recognition of the healing and health effects of pets, and the development and diversification of pet-related industries. The pet boom is not only happening in Japan but also in other countries around the world, and the population and market size of pet owners are expanding year by year.
The pet boom is a wonderful thing in terms of deepening the bond between humans and animals, but it also causes some problems. For example, there are more cases where people start keeping pets easily and regret it later, or abandon them. Also, the aging of pets and owners and the problem of inheritance are serious. Furthermore, there are also criticisms of animal pain and health damage caused by genetic manipulation or unreasonable breeding improvement of pets. In order to sustain the pet boom, it is necessary to respect the life and welfare of pets and to do proper breeding management and education.
Rabbit Island: There Are More Than 20,000 Rabbits Living on Okunoshima Island in Hiroshima Prefecture
Okunoshima Island, located off the coast of Tadanoumi in Hiroshima Prefecture, is also known as “Rabbit Island”. The reason is that there are about 1,000 wild rabbits living on the island, and they are friendly to humans. When you land on the island, you will be greeted by many rabbits. It’s a sight that rabbit lovers can’t resist.
However, this rabbit island has a dark history hidden behind it. Okunoshima Island was once a poison gas factory site, and during World War II, the Japanese army secretly produced poison gas there. It is said that rabbits were used as experimental animals in this poison gas factory. After the war, the factory was abandoned, but there is a theory that the rabbits left behind multiplied and became the current situation.
Okunoshima Island is now designated as a national park, and you can visit the poison gas factory ruins and museum. There are also camping sites and hot spring facilities. It is a valuable island where you can interact with rabbits while learning about history and nature.
Godzilla’s Resident Registration: Godzilla Was Certified as a Special Resident in Shinjuku Ward
The “Godzilla” series, which is Japan’s representative monster movie, has been popular around the world since its first release in 1954. Godzilla is an iconic existence of Japan, but did you know that it is registered as a special resident in Shinjuku Ward?
This was done as part of the promotion for the movie “Shin Godzilla” released in 2015. In “Shin Godzilla”, there is a scene where Godzilla attacks Shinjuku Ward. Therefore, Shinjuku Ward appointed Godzilla as the “Shinjuku Ward Tourism Ambassador” and issued a special resident certificate. This resident certificate contains information such as Godzilla’s date of birth, address, occupation, etc. For example, the date of birth is November 3, 1954 (the release date of the first Godzilla), the address is Shinjuku-ku Kabukicho 2-chome, and the occupation is movie actor.
This special resident certificate was distributed for free at Shinjuku Ward Office and Shinjuku Tourist Information Center, but it was so popular that it ran out of stock. Also, Shinjuku Ward developed various events and goods related to Godzilla. For example, a giant object with Godzilla’s head sticking out was installed on Shinjuku Toho Building, and Godzilla’s footprints were drawn on Kabukicho. Also, collaboration menus such as Godzilla curry and Godzilla parfait appeared.
Shinjuku Ward is making efforts to promote tourism and culture by utilizing Godzilla. It is a must-see spot for Godzilla fans.
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