Why Did Japan Advance so Rapidly? A Comparative Analysis of Newly Reconstructed Series of Deaths by Cause

Yui Ohtsu, Saitama University
Svitlana Poniakina, Insitut National D'Études Démographiques
France Meslé, Institut National d'Études Démographiques (INED)

Tracking cause-of-death trends over an extended period is challenging due to the disruptions caused by revisions of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). In Japan, the transition between the ICD-9 and the ICD-10 is complicated by the death certificate revision that coincided with the adoption of the ICD-10. However, providing consistent series of deaths by cause for this leading country in health and mortality is crucial to understanding the factors behind the progress made since the 1980s and to predicting potential future trends. To address this issue, we reconstructed long-term time series statistics on the cause of death at the most detailed 4-digit level of the ICD-10. The reconstruction process consists of two main steps. The first is to address the notable decline in deaths due to heart failure and renal failure which resulting from the death certificate revision. The second step is to convert the statistics from the ICD-9 period (1981-1994) to the ICD-10, using the methodology established in the framework of the Human Cause-of-Death Database. The reconstructed Japanese data series will ultimately be compared with those available in the HCD for other countries to gain a deeper understanding of the factors behind Japan's success in mortality and longevity.

Keywords: Mortality and Longevity

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