Y’know when you go to a party and you don’t want to be the first to leave but at the same time you don’t want to linger too long? In terms of lifespan, Kumamoto hits that sweet spot. (Below chart: blue = stay to long; yellow = depart too early; pink = sweet spot - and white = fall asleep under the kotatsu while the party is still raging.) According to a government survey of 2015 for lifespan among all 47 prefectures, Kumamoto ranks 10th for men at 79.22 years, meaning we leave the party a tad earlier after those from Nara but at the same time as those from Okayama (we can share a taxi!), and 3rd for women at 86.54 years, who depart on average just earlier than Okayama women to snag the best taxis, but after those from Shimane because, y’know, well, Shimane.
Sex discrepancy was attributed to the naturally ingrained stubbornness of women.* - William
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/life/tdfk05/02.html
*I made that up. But maybe it’s true.