230,000 Japanese centenarians missing or dead Japanese officials say more than 230,000 people listed as being over the age of 100 cannot be found.

Famed for the longevity of its people, Japan has been forced to do some national soul-searching, after several citizens, recognised as being over 100, were actually found to have been dead for decades.

The government launched a nationwide audit of family registries and found that more than 230,000 people listed as reaching three figures were either dead or missing.

The survey also discovered records for nearly 1,000 people who would be 150 or older.