The ‘island of immortals’ where residents regularly live past 100

While life expectancy may have increased across the world, the achievement of living to the age of 100 is still comparatively rare in most places. However, it's nothing out of the ordinary in this little corner of Japan. The village of Ogimi, on Okinawa Island, is renowned for having one of the highest life expectancies in the world, with a large percentage of the population having passed the magic age, and still going strong. Let's take a look around (Picture: Getty Images)

Ogimi is located at the north of Okinawa Island, facing the South China sea on the isle's western coast, with a population of just a few thousand people. And they've somehow discovered the secret of living a long and healthy life. The average man on the island lives for 80 years, while life expectancy for the average woman is 86 (Picture: Getty Images)

But the locals don't just enjoy long lives, they tend to enjoy exceptional health also, with the illnesses and health issues that plague many older people largely absent from the island. According to a report on the website Buzzworthy, residents of Ogimi are three times less likely to suffer from heart disease, breast or prostate cancer, and have some of the lowest rates in the world for cancer, heart attacks and strokes (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

However many have credited the Okinawa diet with bringing long life and good health to the citizens of Ogimi. Locals have a diet which is rich in fresh and raw foods - with staples including tofu, seafood, sweet potatoes and seaweed - as well as a nutrient-rich vegetable known as bitter melon, which resembles a cucumber and is one of the most popular foods on the island. Portion sizes are kept small, with people sticking to the Okinawan saying hara hachi bu - which means 'eat until you are 8/10ths full' (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

Many of the locals also remain active well into their later years, some continue working in the surrounding fields into their 80s and 90s, while exercise such as karate remains popular for the older generation. The attitude towards ageing is made clear on a monument in the centre of the town which reads: 'At 80 years old, I am still a child. When heaven calls for you at 90, say, “Go away and come back when I am 100"' (Picture: Getty Images)

However, it's also a lack of stress which may contribute to people's long, healthy lives. There is little pollution on the island due to the lack of factories and vehicles, while the warm climate means that citizens can spend a lot of time outside, enjoying Ogimi's lush greenery and tranquil spots. The locals value relaxation and emotional wellbeing, which keeps stress to a minimum (Picture: Getty Images)

Ogimi's most famous resident, Ushi Okushima, lived to be 109, and raised the profile of the island after appearing in several documentaries and a film, How To Live Forever. Ushi, who is thought to have died in 2010 or 2011, is said to have stuck to the health diet popular with locals, and was said to have slept eight hours a night as well as drinking five cups of green tea per day. She previously said of the island: 'Everyone is healthy because we have a lot of fish in this village, and the air is nice' (Picture: Getty Images)

Visitors to the island are encouraged also to try Shikuwasa juice, made from a citrus fruit which grows there. The fruit, which is said to have a tangy taste, is also rich in Vitamin C and is also thought to be a factor in the long lives of the residents (Picture: Getty Images)

Oh and let's not forget about the gorgeous scenery of Ogimi, and the other surrounding islands in Okinawa - a must-visit if you have a trip to Japan planned (Picture: Getty Images) This article was originally published in February 2024