Centenarian

　　The word "centenarian" has recently often appeared in the U.S media. Its origin is "cent" of "century", which means one hundred. The centenarian is a person who lives to 100 and over.
　　According to the U.S. Census of the year 2000, more than 50,000 centenarians were counted in America. On the other hand, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced last September that centenarians in Japan had surpassed 15,000. Surprisingly, the ratio of centenarians to the whole population in the U.S. is 1.5 times as much as that in Japan. America seems to be speeding up into the aging society faster than Japan. The U.S. citizens who turn 100 years old can receive a birthday card from the U.S. President.
　　（According to the 2010 census, there are 53,364 centenarians in the United States, the greatest number in the world. Japan has the second-largest number of centenarians, with an estimated 51,376 as of September 2012)
　　How old at all might a man be able to live to be?
　　This question is very controversial among the scientists. Some say that a man can live to 125. Living to more than 100 is daily challenge to the physical and mental limits of human being.
　　Nowadays the scientists continue to pursue the secret of longevity in the fields of molecular biology and genetics.
There are many theories about the aging process; "the older you are, the more oxygen-bearing free-radicals are accumulated in your cells," "the aging is a secondary reaction of the process to prevent cancer."
　　No one has discovered the decisive cause of the aging. Therefore, it is the second good policy to "get older in the healthy condition." The World Health Organization (WHO) appreciated in 2000 that the Japanese live the most healthy and longest life.
　　Especially Okinawa prefecture is the center of the world attention, because many centenarians there still actively work and live in relatively healthy condition. Japanese and U.S researchers have studied together on Okinawa lifestyle for 25 years, and published the research book titled "The Okinawa Program" (Clarkson Potter/Publishers, New York). This book proposes four-week plan for health and longevity based on the traditional Okinawa food and physical exercises, which has created a world sensation.
　　Dupo, the famous Chinese poet of the Tang dynasty, wrote, "Life of 70 years has been rare since ancient times." 1200 years have passed since the age of 70 was recognized as a final destination of life, Koki. Now we have been extending the road of life, setting more milestones such as 77, Kiju; 88, Beiju; 99, Hakuji; 100, Hyakuga; 108, Chaju; and 111, Kouju.
　　In Japan the centenarian twin sisters, "Kin-san and Gin-san (Gold and Silver)" were very popular on TV. I wish to follow them to live long, but 80% of centenarians are women in fact. Only my wife might to be able to survive to be 100.