Japan. For hundreds of years this mysterious state had been cut off from the outer world. The iron curtain was lifted only in the late 19th century, and in the 20th century the country became the homeland of economic miracle. Modern Japan demonstrates miracles of another kind. Its citizens live longer than anyone else on the planet, with the average lifespan of 82 years. The most significant contribution to this achievement is made by the tropical island of Okinawa. The southernmost Japanese island holds the record on the number of centenarians. Sunny Okinawa isn't a typical Japanese region. 450 years ago this territory was an independent state, Kingdom of Ryukyu, with its own laws, customs and language. The island became a part of Japan only in 1872. Okinawa of today is one of the smallest prefectures of the Land of the Rising Sun and the only place in Japan where it never snows.

As life expectancy continues to soar, more and more of us are living to well over the age of 100. We ask some of the oldest people in the world the question everyone wants answered: what is the secret to long life?

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