102-year-old man 'finally satisfied' after climbing Mount Fuji

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An 102-year-old grandad who has become the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji has said he is finally ‘satisfied’.

Kokichi Akuzawa broke the Guinness World Record he set himself by trekking up to the 12,388 feet summit (3,776metre) on August 5.

It’s been six years since he first broke the record as the oldest person to scale Japan’s famous mountain, then age 96.

In the meantime, he’s overcome heart problems, shingles and injuries from a fall while climbing which required stitches.

Akuzawa said: ‘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.

‘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.’

Kokichi Akuzawa, recently recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji (male), poses for a photo with his Guinness certificate during an interview with The Associated Press in Maebashi, northeast of Tokyo, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Kokichi Akuzawa broke the world record first when he climbed Mount Fuji at age 96 (Picture: AP)

The grandad, from Maebashi north west of Tokyo, climbed the mountain with his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, as well his granddaughter, her husband and four climbing mates.

They even camped for two nights on the trail before making the 3,700ft trek.

It took three months of training to get there.

To get Fuji-fit, he would climb roughly one mountain each week and wake at 5am for long walks.

Yukiko Akuzawa (right) helped his father up the mountain (Picture: AP)

Akuzawa first took up mountaineering 88 years ago when he was just 14.

Back then, Japan had not gone through the Second World War and still viewed the Emperor as the divine supreme ruler.

He says the sport has kept him fit and healthy, but can’t pinpoint why he made it past 100 years of age.

Akuzawa added: ‘It’s because I like it (referring to mountain climbing).

‘Certainly, it is good for your health. It’s not that I did anything special to live this long, but mountains are good.’

He now spends his time volunteering at a senior care centre and teaching painting in his studio at home.

This photo provided by Motoe Hoshino shows her father Kokichi Akuzawa, center in a blue helmet, as they and their climbing friends and other family members were climbing Mount Fuji, west of Tokyo, Aug. 5, 2025. (Family courtesy photo via AP)
Akuzawa (centre in a blue helmet) first started climbing 88 years ago (Picture: AP)

While he won’t be climbing Fuji again, his daughters want him to paint the mountain at sunrise.

He already has a string of other paintings of different mountain ranges adorning his living room walls.

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