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Exceptional Longevity in Okinawa:

Author

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  • Michel Poulain

    (Tallinna Ülikool)

Abstract

The topic of this article is the exceptional longevity in Okinawa. This phenomenon should be thoroughly validated at both the individual and population levels. This contribution analyzes the demographic data available for the population of Okinawa, in order to explain the presence of large numbers of centenarians. The mortality crossover obtained by comparing mortality rates in Okinawa and Japan could be attributed either to different behavior of the generations born before and after WW II, or to bad data. Arguments are presented in favor of both possible explanations. The reconstruction of the Koseki to replace the original, which was destroyed during WW II, could be a source of misreporting of age and would support the bad data hypothesis. Nevertheless, no concrete proof of invalid data has been found. Therefore, the author does not favor either of these explanations, but is calling for a more in-depth validation of longevity in Okinawa.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Poulain, 2011. "Exceptional Longevity in Okinawa:," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 25(7), pages 245-284.
    • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:25:y:2011:i:7
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2011.25.7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vladimir Canudas-Romo, 2010. "Three measures of longevity: Time trends and record values," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(2), pages 299-312, May.
    2. Ansley Coale & Shaomin Li, 1991. "The Effect of Age Misreporting in China on the Calculation of Mortality Rates at Very High Ages," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 28(2), pages 293-301, May.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Michel Poulain & Anne Herm & Gianni Pes, 2013. "The Blue Zones: areas of exceptional longevity around the world," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 87-108.
    2. Yang Yang & Han Lin Shang & Joel E. Cohen, 2022. "Temporal and spatial Taylor's law: Application to Japanese subnational mortality rates," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 185(4), pages 1979-2006, October.
    3. Rembrandt D. Scholz & Sebastian Klüsener, 2012. "Regional hot spots of exceptional longevity in Germany," MPIDR Working Papers WP-2012-028, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany.
    4. Luis Rosero-Bixby & William H. Dow & David H. Rehkopf, 2013. "The Nicoya region of Costa Rica: a high longevity island for elderly males," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 109-136.
    5. Sebastian Klüsener & Rembrandt D. Scholz, 2013. "Regional hot spots of exceptional longevity in Germany," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 137-163.
    6. Leonid A. Gavrilov & Natalia S. Gavrilova, 2013. "Determinants of exceptional human longevity: new ideas and findings," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 295-323.
    7. Jon Anson, 2013. "Surviving to be the oldest old—destiny or chance?," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 11(1), pages 71-85.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    mortality; longevity; centenarians; age validation; mortality crossover; bad data; impact of war; Okinawa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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