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At 102 years old, Kokichi Akuzawa reached the top of Mount Fuji on August 5 and set a world record recognized by Guinness
Kokichi Akuzawa, 102 years old, became the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji after reaching the summit on August 5 of last year, a feat recognized by the Guinness World Records and completed with the support of family and friends on Japan’s highest mountain.
Record on Mount Fuji
Akuzawa almost gave up halfway up the climb but pressed on after receiving encouragement from those accompanying him.
He stated that reaching the summit was difficult, although everything ended well thanks to the support he received.
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The climb was made with his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, her husband, their daughter, and four friends from a local mountaineering club. The group camped for two nights on the trail before heading to the summit.
The ascent took place on August 5. Mount Fuji stands at 3,776 meters, or 12,388 feet. The feat was recognized by Guinness World Records after reaching the summit.
Preparation and Physical Limits
Before the climb, Akuzawa trained for three months. He woke up at 5 a.m. to walk for an hour and climbed approximately one mountain per week, mainly in Nagano Prefecture, west of Gunma.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Akuzawa expressed being impressed with his performance. Having difficulty hearing, he responded with the help of his 75-year-old daughter Yukiko, who repeated the questions in his ear.
He stated that at his age, no mountain is trivial. He also said it is better to climb while one still can. This time, he described Mount Fuji as more difficult than six years ago.
Akuzawa reported that he had never felt so weak. He did not feel pain but noticed slowness and lack of stamina. He said he only reached the top with collective help.
History of Overcoming
This was not the first time Akuzawa set a record on Mount Fuji. At 96, he had become the oldest person to climb Japan’s most famous mountain.
In the following six years, he faced heart problems, shingles, and received stitches after a fall during a climb. Nevertheless, he returned to Mount Fuji and overcame a physical test with the help of others.
In his youth, Akuzawa began to develop a love for the mountains. In his home in Maebashi, surrounded by relatives and paintings of mountain landscapes, he recalls that the attraction to the summits was linked to the friendships made along the way.
“I climb because I enjoy it,” he stated. For him, the mountain was a place where it was easy to make friends and move forward together, without intelligence making anyone superior to others.
Work, Routine, and Next Steps
According to family, Akuzawa was a good student and worked as an engine design engineer. Later, he worked as an artificial inseminator for cattle, a job he maintained until he was 85.
He used to climb alone, but over time and with the reduction of his strength, he began to rely more on the help of others. In last month’s record ascent, that help became crucial again.
When asked about a new attempt on Mount Fuji, Akuzawa said he would love to continue climbing forever, but he thinks he can no longer do it. Now, he claims to be at the level of Mount Akagi, which is 1,828 meters high.
Currently, he spends his mornings volunteering at a care center for the elderly and teaches painting in his home studio. For Akuzawa, mountaineering and painting offer peace.
His daughters want him to paint Mount Fuji at sunrise to expand the collection displayed in the living room. He wants to depict special memories from the summit, which he may have visited for the last time.
With information from AP News.
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