100K out of 123 million is about 1 in 1200, not so absurd.

Certainly life span is long in Japan even if some of the centenarians aren't really that old.

> When its government began the centenarian survey in 1963, there were 153 people aged 100 or over.

This is the comparison that makes the number standout.

	▲	jpc0 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		There might have been some event in the late 1940s that might effect the statistics of that time. Unsubstantiated claim but might be worth some research.