Key Points
Kokichi Akuzawa, aged 102, became the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji, breaking his own record set six years earlier at age 96.
Akuzawa overcame serious health challenges and trained rigorously for three months before completing the climb with support from family and friends.
The climb held deep personal and historical significance for Akuzawa, who plans to retire from Mount Fuji climbs and focus on smaller mountains.
On August 5, 2025, the summit of Mount Fuji—Japan’s most iconic peak—witnessed an extraordinary feat of endurance and determination. Kokichi Akuzawa, at the age of 102, became the oldest person ever to climb the 12,388-foot (3,776-meter) mountain, a record officially recognized by Guinness World Records. This wasn’t Akuzawa’s first time atop Fuji as the oldest climber: six years earlier, at age 96, he had set the same record, only to return and surpass it in spectacular fashion.
Akuzawa’s journey to the top was anything but easy. According to the Associated Press and Guinness World Records, he overcame a series of daunting health challenges in the years leading up to this climb. Heart problems, a bout with shingles, and even injuries from a fall that required stitches all threatened to derail his goal. Yet, with a mix of stubbornness, preparation, and support from loved ones, he pressed on. “I’ve climbed most of the mountains in Japan, and had a few goals with Mount Fuji. Now that I have achieved them, I am satisfied,” Akuzawa told the Associated Press. “I was really tempted to give up halfway through, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. But it was tough. Didn’t know mountains can be this tough.”
The record-breaking climb was a true family affair. Akuzawa was joined by his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a local mountain climbing club. The group camped for two nights along the trail before their final push to the summit, braving chilly conditions and thin air. The camaraderie on the mountain was palpable, with Akuzawa’s daughter Yukiko, 75, even helping to repeat journalists’ questions during interviews, as her father is hard of hearing.
Preparation for such a demanding feat was as rigorous as one might expect, especially for a centenarian. Akuzawa spent three months training, rising at 5 a.m. for long walks and climbing one mountain per week near his home in Maebashi, northwest of Tokyo. The discipline and routine hark back to a lifetime spent in the mountains—a passion that began when he was just 14, nearly 88 years ago. Back then, Japan was a very different place, with the Emperor still regarded as the divine supreme ruler and the country yet to be transformed by the events of World War II.
Akuzawa’s mountaineering story is interwoven with decades of Japanese history and social change. He worked as an engine design engineer and, later, as a livestock artificial inseminator—a job he held until the remarkable age of 85. His life, much like his climbing, has been defined by persistence and adaptability. “I climb because I like it,” he explained to the Associated Press. “Certainly, it is good for your health. It’s not that I did anything special to live this long, but mountains are good.”
Despite his impressive solo exploits in earlier years, Akuzawa has come to rely more on the support of others. “Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago. Harder than any mountain before,” he admitted. “I’ve never felt this weak. … It was only thanks to everyone else’s strength that I made it.” The climb, he said, nearly overwhelmed him, but the encouragement and physical help from family and friends made all the difference. “I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.”
For Akuzawa, the mountain is more than just a challenge to be conquered. It’s a place of spiritual and personal meaning, a backdrop to friendships and family milestones. “It’s easy to make friends on the mountain,” he told the AP, reflecting on the sense of community that comes with shared adventure. That sense of belonging, along with a lifelong love of nature, has kept him coming back to the peaks of Japan for nearly nine decades.
After this latest triumph, Akuzawa has signaled that his days of climbing Mount Fuji are likely over. Instead, he plans to focus on smaller mountains near his hometown and spend more time on his other passions. These days, he volunteers at a senior care center and teaches painting in his home studio. His family has asked him to paint Mount Fuji at sunrise—a fitting tribute to the mountain that has shaped so much of his life. “I want to paint some scenes from the summit of Mount Fuji, places that hold special memories for me, since this was likely my last time reaching the top,” he said.
The living room walls of Akuzawa’s home are already adorned with his paintings of various mountain ranges, each one a testament to his enduring connection to the outdoors. Even as he steps back from the rigors of high-altitude climbing, his creative spirit and sense of adventure continue to inspire those around him.
Akuzawa’s achievement has captured the attention of media outlets and mountaineering enthusiasts alike, not just for the record itself but for what it represents: the power of perseverance, the importance of community, and the enduring joy of pursuing one’s passions—no matter one’s age. The climb, confirmed by Guinness World Records and widely reported by the Associated Press, stands as a remarkable example of human resilience and the potential for new milestones well into old age.
Looking at Akuzawa’s story, it’s hard not to wonder what drives a person to keep challenging themselves, year after year, even when the odds seem stacked against them. Is it the thrill of the climb, the satisfaction of breaking records, or simply the love of the journey itself? For Akuzawa, it appears to be a little bit of everything—a life philosophy as much as a mountaineering strategy.
While he may not attempt Mount Fuji again, Akuzawa’s legacy is already secure. His daughters are eager for him to immortalize the mountain in paint, capturing the sunrise and the memories of a lifetime spent reaching for new heights. And as he continues to volunteer and create art, Akuzawa remains a beacon of vitality and purpose, proving that age is, indeed, just a number—especially when there are still mountains to climb.
AloJapan.com