102-Year-Old Man Becomes Oldest Person to Climb Mount Fuji — with the Help of His 70-Year-Old Daughter

A 102-year-old man has become the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest peak.

Kokichi Akuzawa of Maebashi, Japan, reached the summit on Aug. 5 with the support of his 70-year-old daughter, Motoe, his granddaughter and her husband, along with four friends from a local mountain climbing club, according to the Associated Press.

The group began their ascent on Aug. 3, tackling the 12,388-foot climb over two days and camping along the way to rest and recover.

“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” Akuzawa told the AP, communicating through his 75-year-old daughter, Yukik. “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.”

He added, “I’m impressed I climbed so well. […] It’s better to climb while you still can.”

This feat marks Kokichi’s second record-setting climb of Mount Fuji. He previously ascended the mountain at age 96, setting the record as the oldest person to reach the summit at that time.

The journey wasn’t without challenges. Akuzawa has faced health setbacks in recent years, including heart issues and shingles. He told the AP that he spent three months training for the August climb, waking at 5 a.m. for hour-long walks and climbing at least one mountain per week. He emphasized that he could not have succeeded without the help of others.

“Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago. Harder than any mountain before,” he said. “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.”

Kokichi, who retired at 85, shared that his love of mountain climbing dates back to his youth. “Whether you liked studying or not, you could enjoy the mountain just the same. Intelligence didn’t matter up there. We were all on equal footing and moved forward together,” he explained.

He was awarded a certificate from Guinness World Records for his latest climb, officially recognizing him as the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji (male).

When asked if he would consider climbing the mountain again, Kokichi jokingly replied, “Never again. If you ask me next year, maybe you’ll get a different answer, but for now, I’m happy with that climb.”