Kokichi Akuzawa has become the oldest person to climb to the top of Mount Fuji at the age of 102 – despite almost giving up during his trek.
“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” Akuzawa 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.”
Akuzawa climbed with his daughter Motoe, 70, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a climbing club. His achievement has been recognised by Guinness World Records.
Kokichi Akuzawa was 96 the first time he became the oldest person to scale Mount Fuji. He has since overcome heart issues, shingles and stitches from a climbing fall. Photograph: Hiro Komae/AP
The group camped for two nights en route before their ascent on 5 August to the top of Mount Fuji, which is Japan’s tallest mountain at 3,776 metres (12,388ft).
“I’m impressed I climbed so well,” he said, communicating with the help of his 75-year-old daughter Yukiko, who repeated questions into her father’s ear because he is hard of hearing. Akuzawa added that he didn’t take any mountain for granted at his age. “It’s better to climb while you still can.”
The trip was not Akuzawa’s first record-breaking ascent of Mount Fuji. He was 96 the first time he became the oldest person to scale the mountain. In the six years since, he has overcome heart issues, shingles and stitches from a climbing fall.
Akuzawa spent three months in training before the Fuji climb, waking at 5am for hour-long walks and tackling roughly one mountain each week, mostly around the Nagano prefecture in central Japan.
Surrounded by relatives and framed paintings of mountains in his home in Maebashi, about 150 miles (241km) north-west of Tokyo, Akuzawa recalled what first drew him to the mountains 88 years ago. While the magic of reaching the summit was undeniable, it was the people who kept him coming back.
“I climb because I like it,” he said. “It’s easy to make friends on the mountain.”
Akuzawa, centre in the blue helmet, climbed with his daughter Motoe, 70, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a climbing club. Photograph: AP
Akuzawa worked as an engine design engineer and later as a livestock artificial inseminator, a profession he held until he was 85, his family said.
“Whether you liked studying or not, you could enjoy the mountain just the same,” he said. “Intelligence didn’t matter up there. We were all on an equal footing and moved forward together.”
Akuzawa used to enjoy climbing solo, but as his strength decreased he leaned more on the help of others. His record climb in August was another test that he passed with assistance.
“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.
“I’d love to keep climbing for ever, but I guess I can’t any more. Now I’m at the level of Mount Akagi,” a nearby summit about half the height of Fuji at 1,828 metres (5,997ft).
Akuzawa spends his mornings volunteering at a senior care centre and teaching painting at his home studio.
Kokichi Akuzawa and his daughter Yukiko, at his home that is decorated with his paintings of mountain landscapes. Photograph: Hiro Komae/AP
Mountaineering and painting demand time and dedication but both offer peace, he said. “People who climb mountains, people who paint; if they can create something whole on that path, that’s the most fulfilling thing,” Akuzawa said.
Akuzawa’s daughters want him to paint Fuji at sunrise for the next addition to the depictions of mountain ranges covering his living room walls.
“I’ve got a lot of requests,” he said. “I want to paint some scenes from the summit of Mount Fuji, places that hold special memories for me, since this was probably my last time reaching the top.”
