The average life expectancy reached a record high for both male and female Japanese people last year. It was more than five years longer than in 1989, the year the three-decade Japanese era of Heisei started.

Japan's health and welfare ministry says the average lifespan last year was 87.32 years for women and 81.25 years for men. Both marked a year-on-year increase for the seventh consecutive year.

In global comparison, the average lifespan for Japanese women ranked second behind Hong Kong for the fourth year in a row. The average lifespan for Japanese men ranked third behind Hong Kong and Switzerland for the second straight year.

Ministry officials attribute the jump in life expectancy over the past 30 years to medical advances and heightened health awareness during the Japanese era of Heisei.

They plan to work on policies that ensure a comfortable old age, as they expect people to live even longer in the future.

Source: ANNnewsCH