For the 25th consecutive year statistics published by the Japanese government showed that women there had a longer life expectancy than any others on the planet. In 2009, Japanese women extended their average longevity to 86.44 years; Japanese men can expect to live 79.59 years, a pretty good showing but not as good as men in Qatar (81 years), Hong Kong (79.8), and Iceland and Switzerland (tied at 79.7).

Women in Hong Kong came in second to Japanese women with a life expectancy of 86.1 years;

French women were third at 84.5 and Swiss women fourth at 84.4 years. Japan's longevity is said to reflect good medical treatment that reduced death rates from cancer, heart disease and strokes as well as pneumonia.

Japan's relatively healthy diet and high living standards also contribute to improving longevity among the population. In 2009, average life spans for women increased by almost five months and compared to nearly four months for men.

While this is good news for the aging men and women, the downside is that Japan has a low birth rate and a declining population.

The increasingly graying society may eventually strain government services and pension programs and lead to labor shortages.

The Japanese also tend to be happier than Americans, possibly due to their high fish consumption.