Too many old people means smaller presents

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan now has so many people over 100 that it is cutting costs by reducing the size of silver cups it presents to those who reach that age.

Last year 19,769 people reached triple figures in the world's most rapidly aging country, compared with only 153 in 1963, the year when the cups were first presented.

The cups are presented on September 15, a holiday designated Respect for the Aged Day, to people who have turned 100 in the past year. The cost varies with the price of silver, but the Yomiuri newspaper said it was about 7,000-8,000 yen ($72-82) apiece, including a wooden presentation box.