102-Year-Old Conquers Mount Fuji Summit... Grandfather Enters Guinness World Records [Japan Insight]

88 Years of Hiking Experience: Kokichi Akuza
Despite a Fall and Shingles in January
Successfully Climbed Mount Fuji in a Three-Day Journey with His Daughter and Son-in-Law

Do you enjoy hiking? Personally, I prefer the Makgeolli and Pajeon that come after a hike rather than the hike itself. This week, the Japanese English weekly, Asahi Weekly, reported on the story of Kokichi Akuza, who reached the summit of Mount Fuji at the age of 102. Although he successfully completed the climb last August, coverage of his achievement continues. This week, I would like to share the story of Mr. Akuza, who reached the summit of Mount Fuji with his daughters at the remarkable age of 102.

Mr. Akuza has been climbing mountains since his twenties. He says it has already been 88 years since he became fascinated by mountains. While reaching the summit is certainly appealing, he says he loves the people he meets while hiking even more. Originally, Mr. Akuza worked as an engine design engineer, and after retirement, he continued working as a livestock artificial inseminator until the age of 85. He says what he likes most about the mountains is that everyone is equal there, regardless of education or possessions, and everyone simply looks toward the summit together. That made making friends in the mountains very easy for him. Even now, he serves as the honorary president of the Gunma Prefecture Mountaineering Club and climbs almost every week. Since it is difficult for him to climb alone, he always hikes with others.

Mr. Akuza is climbing Mount Fuji with his daughter, son-in-law, and members of the mountaineering club. Guinness World Records.

Regardless of age or the mountain, he does not shy away from a challenge. In fact, he already reached the summit of Mount Fuji at age 96, setting the record for the oldest climber at that time. His efforts to set new records have continued ever since. In 2022, for his 99th birthday, he climbed a mountain with an elevation of 1,272 meters. For this year, he set his sights once again on becoming the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji. He said that at this age, any mountain is difficult to climb, so he believes it is best to climb while he still can.

However, in January of this year, Mr. Akuza fell and was injured while climbing another mountain. The impact was significant; afterward, he suffered from shingles and even heart failure, leaving his physical condition completely depleted. Regaining the strength needed to climb Mount Fuji required relentless effort. Starting three months before the climb, he woke up every morning at 5 a.m. to walk for an hour and climbed smaller mountains. He also made sure to climb a different mountain at least once a week to prepare.

Then, on August 3, Mr. Akuza set out to climb Mount Fuji with his 70-year-old daughter, his son-in-law, and friends from the local mountaineering club. Their goal was to conquer the highest mountain in Japan, standing 3,776 meters above sea level. The journey took three days and two nights, with overnight stays at mountain huts along the way. Mountains above 3,000 meters are especially challenging due to constantly changing winds and noticeable differences in air pressure and oxygen levels. Mr. Akuza climbed smoothly until the second day, but on the third and final day, he began to reach his limits. At the ninth station, he even said, "Maybe I should turn back." His companions, knowing how much his health had suffered since his injury in January, could not bring themselves to urge him to continue.

Mr. Akuza is posing with the Guinness certificate. Guinness World Records.

In that moment, his daughter in her seventies encouraged him, saying, "If you just keep taking one step at a time toward the summit, you can make it." Thanks to her support, at 11 a.m. on August 5, he reached the summit of Mount Fuji and received the official Guinness World Records certificate. He said he had completely run out of strength and was only able to make it thanks to the help of those around him.

After completing the climb, he returned to his daily routine. These days, he says the highest mountain he can manage is about 1,800 meters above sea level, roughly half the height of Mount Fuji. Instead of focusing solely on hiking, he now volunteers at a nursing home in the mornings and spends time painting. He finds that both hiking and painting require time and offer a sense of comfort, making them very similar. In an interview with Asahi Weekly, he said, "Whether you are climbing a mountain or painting a picture, if you can create something along the way, that is what it means to do it best." His new goal is to paint the scenery he saw from the summit of Mount Fuji.

It's often said that the "last rep" is the most important part of a workout. Although it is extremely painful, pushing through that final effort is what allows us to reach a new level of ability. At 102 years old, will I be able to squeeze out that last step to reach my goal? This story reminds us that there is no age limit to taking on new challenges.