A Historic Ascent on Japan’s Most Iconic Mountain

Published Time: 09-05-2025, 11:00

Kokichi Akuzawa, a 102-year-old mountaineer from Japan, has officially become the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Fuji. His remarkable achievement was recognized by Guinness World Records after he successfully completed the climb in early August 2025.

Despite health challenges and the immense difficulty of the climb, Akuzawa pushed through with encouragement from his family and friends. His story reflects both resilience and the power of community support in overcoming extraordinary obstacles.

The Climb to the Summit

Akuzawa began his ascent on August 3 with a climbing party that included his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband, and several friends from a local mountaineering club. Together, they camped along the trail for two nights before making their final push to the summit on August 5.

Standing at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest and most iconic peak. While the mountain is not considered technically difficult to climb, the altitude and physical demands make it a formidable challenge—especially for someone of Akuzawa’s age.

Speaking with The Associated Press, Akuzawa admitted the journey tested his limits:

“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” he said. “Reaching the summit was tough, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.”

A Veteran of Mount Fuji

This was not Akuzawa’s first record-setting climb. In 2019, at age 96, he became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Fuji, a record he has now surpassed six years later.

In the years between climbs, Akuzawa faced significant health challenges, including heart issues, shingles, and even injuries from a fall. Yet his determination remained undeterred. For three months before the latest ascent, he trained rigorously—waking at 5 a.m. for long walks and climbing smaller peaks near his home in Gunma Prefecture.

His preparation routine included weekly climbs in the mountains of Nagano, which helped build endurance ahead of the historic attempt.

A Lifetime Connected to the Mountains

Akuzawa’s love for mountaineering began 88 years ago, when he first took to the hills as a teenager. Now living in Maebashi, northwest of Tokyo, he is surrounded by paintings and photos of the mountains he has conquered. For him, climbing has always been about more than reaching the peak—it has been about friendship and connection.

“I climb because I like it,” he said. “It’s easy to make friends on the mountain.”

Over the course of his long life, Akuzawa worked as an engine design engineer and later as a livestock artificial inseminator, a career he pursued until the age of 85. Yet mountaineering remained his lifelong passion.

Struggles and Triumphs at 102

Although Mount Fuji has been part of his life for decades, this year’s climb was by far the most demanding.

“Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago,” Akuzawa admitted. “Harder than any mountain before. 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. I’d long since passed my physical limit, and it was only thanks to everyone else’s strength that I made it.”

His family, especially his daughters Yukiko and Motoe, played a crucial role in helping him complete the journey. Because of his hearing loss, Yukiko often repeated questions to him during interviews, underscoring the teamwork that made the climb possible.

Looking Ahead: Painting Instead of Climbing

When asked if he plans to climb Mount Fuji again, Akuzawa responded with a mix of humor and realism:

“I’d love to keep climbing forever, but I guess I can’t anymore. Now I’m at the level of Mount Akagi,” he said, referring to a nearby peak just half the height of Fuji.

Instead of setting new climbing records, Akuzawa now devotes his mornings to volunteering at a senior care center and teaching painting at his home studio. His passion for art mirrors his mountaineering spirit, offering him a new way to channel creativity and discipline.

“People who climb mountains, people who paint—if they can create something whole on that path, that’s the most fulfilling thing,” he said.

His daughters have already asked him to capture Mount Fuji at sunrise on canvas, adding to the collection of mountain scenes that line the walls of his home. For Akuzawa, these paintings may serve as lasting tributes to the mountains that shaped his extraordinary life.

A Legacy of Inspiration

Kokichi Akuzawa’s journey to the top of Mount Fuji at 102 is more than a record-breaking feat. It is a story of perseverance, family support, and the enduring spirit of adventure.

As he transitions from climbing peaks to painting them, Akuzawa continues to inspire mountaineers, seniors, and dreamers around the world—proving that determination and passion can carry us to great heights, no matter our age.