Kokichi Akuzawa, a 102-year-old Japanese man, entered the Guinness World Records by becoming the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji in Japan, at an altitude of 3,776 meters. This was not Akuzawa's first time facing Mount Fuji: at 96, he had already reached the summit. But after struggling with heart failure, this climb represented an even greater challenge.
In the months before the climb, Akuzawa faced serious problems: he suffered a fall in January, was diagnosed with shingles, and was even hospitalized because of heart failure, but recovered quickly, surprising even his doctors.
To prepare, he maintained a daily walking and weekly climbing routine, in addition to serving as honorary president of the Gunma Gakuyukai mountaineering club. This month's ascent took the Yoshida Route, considered more accessible, and was divided over three days, with two nights in mountain huts.
Despite facing intense cold, strong winds, and the effects of altitude, he nearly gave up at the ninth station, but continued with encouragement from his daughter Motoe, who motivated him by saying, “take one step at a time.” With support from his team and his nurse granddaughter, he reached the summit on August 5, acknowledging that the climb was more difficult than previous ones.
When receiving the official Guinness World Records certificate, Akuzawa acknowledged that it “was difficult” and that the feeling of reaching the summit “was quite different from last time.” “I am impressed that I reached the top. I could not have done it without everyone's help. I am satisfied now,” he said, according to the Guinness statement.
Beyond the mountains, Akuzawa volunteers at a senior-care center and teaches painting. Now he is also officially the oldest man to climb Mount Fuji, an active volcano. In 2022, he had climbed 1,272-meter Mount Nabewariyama to celebrate his 99th birthday.
