This island unlocked the secret to long life—and knows how to get through tough times

Misako Miyagi, 88, is “merely a youth,” according to a saying in Ogimi, where there is a high concentration of centenarians.

One contributing factor to long life in Ogimi? Community support. Residents enjoy active social lives around events like the annual Ungami Festival.

The Ungami Festival honors the sea god, but also pays tribute to the mountain gods, with priestesses praying for a good harvest.

During the Ungami Festival, women wade into Shioya Bay to welcome the men of the village back from sea.

Like many older locals in Ogimi, Misako Miyagi enjoys an active life.

Residents of sub-tropical Ogimi take advantage of the area’s stunning natural landscape, which includes hiking trails leading to Hiji Falls in the Yanbaru forest.

Ogimi’s high concentration of centenarians is remarkable even in Japan, where more than 70,000 residents are 100 years old or over.