Ryukyu Kingdom &The ‘island of immortals’

[별고을]

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

Metro

Story by Caroline Westbrook

Mar 2025

100세가 넘도록 주민들이 정기적으로 사는 '불멸의 섬'

Metro

캐롤라인 웨스트브룩의 이야기

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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)

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

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

Okinawa: The island of almost-eternal youth

28 November 2020

Keith Bedford & Shiho Fukada

Features correspondent

Chris Willson/Alamy

Okinawa: The island of almost-eternal youth (Credit: Chris Willson/Alamy)

A highly unusual percentage of seniors on Japan’s Okinawa island live to 100. Their secret is “ikigai”, a unique sense of purpose.

On Japan’s Okinawa Island, nicknamed the “island of longevity”, locals refuse to die. Residents suffer from low levels of heart disease, cancer and dementia, and Okinawans’ robust social life and strong sense of ikigai (a unique purpose in life) often keeps them alive and healthy past the age of 100.

As one of the world’s five “Blue Zones” of longevity, Okinawa is also unique because of the close bonds between residents. Most join one or more moai, an informal group of friends and peers who meet regularly, bond over shared interests and pool monthly contributions to help members in need or support public works.

7:06

The island of immortals

According to the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles, Okinawans eat a diet rich in vegetables and antioxidant foods, consume just a third of Japan’s average sugar intake and eat their meals on small plates. They regularly exert their bodies in low-intensity exercise and only eat until they feel 80% full, which aligns with ancient wisdom advising against overeating. Okinawa’s Kitanakagusuku village even holds a yearly pageant in celebration of women aged 80 and older.

The key to Okinawans’ joy and good health is their ikigai, the core of one’s true nature that needs not be centred on a lofty, material or power-driven goal. Discovering and pursuing your ikigai every day, the authors write, will keep you busy doing the things that give your life meaning. But also, they say, it’s important to reconnect with nature, surround yourself with people who love you and stay active.

The secret to a long life, it seems, begins where our curiosity, intuition and friendships meet.

(Video by Shiho Fukada & Keith Bedford, text by Yasmin El-Beih)  

This video is part of BBC Reel’s Ultimate World playlist. 

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はいたい ぐすーよー。 なま、カナダ出身ぬポール・グリーブ氏ん作くとーる、しまくとぅばドキュメンタリー撮影ぬ始まいびーたん。ドキュメンタリーんかいや、ハンズオンうてぃぬしまくとぅば普及活動プログラムぬ他、沖縄本島びけーあいびらん、ハワイまでぃ、しまくとぅば愛さするうふぉーくぬ方々ぬ出じてぃめんしぇーびーん。ドキュメンタリー完成んかい向きてぃ資金造成ぬDVD販売ん予定そーいびーん。ぐすーよーぬチムグクルし、てぃがねーしてぃとぃらしみしぇーびれーいっぺーじょうとうやいびーん。ゆたさるぐとぅうにげーさびら！ 只今、カナダ出身のポール・グリーブ氏制作によるしまくとぅばドキュメンタリー撮影が始動しました。 ドキュメンタリーには、ハンズオンでのしまくとぅば普及活動プログラムの他にも、沖縄本島を飛び出して遠くはハワイまで、しまくとぅばを愛さする数多くの方々の出演を予定しております。 ドキュメンタリー完成へ向けて資金造成のDVD販売を予定しております。皆様の温かいご支援をどうぞ宜しくお願い致します。

We are thrilled to announce that we are now in production on a documentary about the efforts of dedicated Okinawans to protect and preserve Shimakutuba, the language of our ancestors. The film is being produced by Paul Sean Grieve, a filmmaker from Canada, and it involves not only Hands-On, but also the Okinawan diaspora around the world and in particular Hawaii. We will be selling DVDs in advance to raise funds for the production of the film.