Kokichi Akuzawa sets Guinness World Record at 102 as oldest person to climb Mount Fuji in Japan

Kokichi Akuzawa has made history again. On August 5, 2025, the 102-year-old man from Japan became the oldest person ever to reach the summit of Mount Fuji. He climbed the 12,388-foot peak with help from his 70-year-old daughter, her husband, and close friends.

The group needed three days to finish the steep and scenic route. Akuzawa, born in 1923 in Nagano prefecture, already held the same Guinness World Record at age 96. Now, six years later, he has broken his own record.

Kokichi Akuzawa climbs Mount Fuji at 102 with family support

Kokichi Akuzawa admitted the climb was very hard this time. “I was tempted to stop halfway,” he told the Associated Press. “But my friends kept cheering me on. That’s why I reached the top.”He trained for three months before the climb. Every morning he woke at 5 a.m.,

walked for hours, and practiced on smaller mountains near his home in Nagano. Even with training, he felt weaker than before. “Mount Fuji isn’t a very difficult mountain, but for me this time was harder than six years ago,” he said.

The group walked slowly, resting often, and finally reached the top. His daughter and her husband stayed beside him the whole way. Friends also carried supplies and encouraged him to keep moving.

“I had no stamina, but everyone gave me strength,” Akuzawa said.

Kokichi Akuzawa recalls past climbs and shares his passion

This was not Akuzawa’s first climb. He first set the world record in 2019 at age 96. At that time, he had already overcome health issues like heart problems, shingles, and even a fall while climbing. His return to Mount Fuji at 102 shows his strong spirit.Still, he knows it may be his last climb. “I’d love to keep climbing forever, but I guess I can’t anymore,” he admitted.Also Read: “It Was A Democrat Hoax”: Martina Navratilova Hits Back As Mike Johnson Links Donald Trump To Undercover FBI Role In Epstein ScandalKokichi Akuzawa was not only a climber. He worked as an engine design engineer and later as a livestock artificial inseminator until age 85. But climbing mountains has always been his joy. “I climb because I like it,” he said. “On the mountain, everyone is equal. Intelligence doesn’t matter. We move forward together.”Mount Fuji is Japan’s tallest mountain and one of the most famous in the world. It can be dangerous even for young climbers. In April this year, a climber from China had to be rescued twice in one week. Yet Kokichi Akuzawa, at 102, stood at the top with pride.