102-YEAR-OLD BECOMES OLDEST PERSON TO SUMMIT MOUNT FUJI

Defying Age and Altitude: 102-Year-Old Kokichi Akuzawa Sets Record on Mount Fuji

·    Kokichi Akuzawa, 102, Becomes Oldest Person to Summit Mount Fuji

In a feat that has stunned mountaineers and inspired millions, Kokichi Akuzawa, a 102-year-old Japanese man, has become the oldest person ever to summit Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest and most iconic peak.

His record-breaking ascent was officially recognized by Guinness World Records after he reached the 3,776-meter (12,388-foot) summit on August 5, 2025.

Akuzawa’s journey to the top was anything but easy. Despite his age and recent health setbacks, including heart failure, shingles, and a fall earlier in the year, he trained rigorously for three months, waking at dawn for hour-long walks and climbing a mountain nearly every week.

His determination culminated in a three-day climb via the Yoshida Trail, the most accessible of Fuji’s four main routes. Accompanied by his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a local mountaineering club, Akuzawa camped for two nights before reaching the summit.

The climb tested his endurance and spirit. Near the ninth station, he considered giving up, overwhelmed by the altitude and fatigue. But with encouragement from his daughter and climbing companions, he pressed on, reaching the peak at 11 a.m. on the third day. “I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” he admitted. “But my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.”

This wasn’t Akuzawa’s first time conquering Fuji. At age 96, he previously held the record for the oldest climber to reach the summit.

His return six years later, however, was markedly more difficult. “It was tougher than any mountain before,” he said. “I’ve never felt this weak. I didn’t have pain, but I kept wondering why I was so slow, why I had no stamina.”

Akuzawa’s love for mountains began 88 years ago. A former engine design engineer and livestock artificial inseminator, he climbed solo for decades before relying on others in his later years. Today, he spends his mornings volunteering at a senior care center and teaching painting in his home studio in Maebashi, northwest of Tokyo. His daughters now hope he will paint Mount Fuji at sunrise, capturing the view from his historic climb.

Though he jokes that he may not attempt Fuji again, Akuzawa remains a symbol of resilience and passion. “It’s better to climb while you still can,” he said. “I climb because I like it. It’s easy to make friends on the mountain.” His story is a testament to the power of perseverance, community, and the enduring human spirit.