Geographical variations in the death rates at aged 65 and over in each prefecture were analyzed for 12 major causes of death during the period 1985-1990 using Japanese Vital Statistics. Twelve major causes of death were as follows: (1) malignant neoplasm, (2) heart disease, (3) cerebrovascular disease, (4) pneumonia and bronchitis, (5) accidents and adverse effects, (6) senility without mention of spychosis, (7) suicide, (8) chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, (9) nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephrosis, (10) hypertensive disease, (11) diabetes mellitus, and (12) mental disorders. Geographically, Japan is a long country extending from northeast to southwest; the people being distributed semi-linearly. In this investigation this semi-linear distribution was regarded as a linear one. The regression coefficient for death rate on the latitude of the prefectural capital was computed for 12 major causes of death. The death rate was significantly higher in the northeast than the southwest for cerebrovascular disease, suicide, and diabetes mellitus, whereas the opposite tendency was seen for hypertensive disease and for chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. After 1970, the geographical variation in the death rates was drastically decreased with year for pneumonia and bronchitis and slightly decreased for malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and chronic liver disease, whereas the variation remained constantly with year for accidents and adverse effects.