Kokichi Akuzawa celebrates his amazing achievement as the oldest person to summit Mt. Fuji at 102-year-old.| Photo Credit: Guinness World Records
A Japanese man recently became the oldest person ever to summit Mt. Fuji at the age of 102. In August, Kokichi Akuzawa broke the previous Guinness World Record while also overcoming recent heart failure, a battle with shingles, and a recent fall in order to complete the climb. On the morning of August 3, Akuzawa began his journey up the famous and imposing Mt. Fuji. Akuzawa is no stranger to mountain climbing; he is honorary chairman of the Gunma Mountaineering Club and has climbed mountains almost weekly, according to a statement from Guinness World Records’ Masakazu Senda. In 2022, to celebrate his 99th birthday, Akuzawa climbed Mount Nabewariyama, a 4,177-foot peak outside Tokyo. Akuzawa had also previously climbed Mt. Fuji at the age of 96.
The impressive and imposing Mt. Fuji.| Photo Credit: TokyoTreat
In preparation for the climb, Akuzawa would take daily early morning hikes for at least an hour to condition himself for the strenuous journey ahead. In addition to his morning hikes, he would also climb other lower nearby peaks bi-weekly in preparation. Akuzawa climbed to the summit of Mt. Fuji via the Yoshida trail. The trail is considered the mountain’s most popular route, and it’s equipped with many mountainside huts, five shops and three first-aid stations. Akuzawa planned to stretched his journey over three days, spending two nights on the trail.
During the majority of his actual climb, the weather was pleasant. As Akuzawa neared the summit of Fuji temperatures began to plummet. At 12,000 feet atmospheric pressure and oxygen also decrease causing Akuzawa to start dealing with some altitude related issues. Akuzawa wanted to give up on the third day, but his daughter Motoe, 70, encouraged him to keep going one step at a time. Akuzawa eventually reached the summit at 11 a.m. on August 5. “It was tough, and it felt a lot different to the last time I climbed it,” Akuzawa said in the statement. “I’m amazed that I made it to the top.”
Approaching the summit of Mt. Fuji.| Photo Credit: Live Japan
The record for the oldest climber to summit Mount Fuji has been set several times in the past few decades. Teiichi Igarashi, 99, became the oldest person to summit the mountain in 1986. In 1994, the first centenarian Ichijiro Araya summited the mountain at 100-years-old. Now, Akuzawa has done it at the age of 102 years and 51 days.
Akuzawa was awarded an official Guinness World Records certificate. Following his amazing achievement, Akuzawa was questioned if he planned on climbing Mt. Fuji again in the future. He responded that he has no interest in climbing the mountain again in his lifetime. “If you ask me next year, maybe you’ll get a different answer,” he joked. “But for now, I’m happy with that climb.”
Akuzawa receiving his hard earned Guinness World Record.| Photo Credit: Guinness World Records
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