The number of centenarians in Japan will hit a record 28,395 as of the end of the month, exceeding last year's previous high by 2,841, the health ministry said Friday, ahead of next week's Respect for the Aged Day.</PARAGRAPH> <PHOTO> <TABLE WIDTH='360' ALIGN='RIGHT' BORDER='0'> <TR> <TD><IMG ALT='News photo' BORDER='0' SRC='../images/photos2006/nn20060916a6a.jpg' WIDTH='360' HEIGHT='282'/></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><FONT SIZE='1'><B> Yone Minagawa –

, of Fukuchi, Fukuoka Prefecture, is the oldest person in Japan at 113, and Tomoji Tanabe from Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, who turns 111 on Monday, is the oldest man. KYODO PHOTOS

Women continue to make up the vast majority of centenarians, accounting for 85.4 percent, the second-highest figure on record.