We all have to go sometime. But none of us has to hurry the eventual day along.

Japanese live long - 79+ years for men and 84+ years for women. Mean people like my ex-mother-in-law live longer.

I am not sure why.

A quarter of a century ago to two major causes of death in Japan were cerebrovascular diseases 139.5/100K and cancer 139.1/100K.

It's different now.

The top 7 causes of death/100,000 people.

1. Old age - 18.0

2. Suicide - 23.8

3. Accidents - 30.7

4. Pneumonia - 69.4

5. Cerebrovascular disease - 103.4

6. Heart diseases - 121.0

7. The big C - Cancer - 241.7.

Despite medical advances, the number of deaths from illness grew by 60% in the past 25 years or so.

What's up with that?