Japan’s 102-Year-Old Kokichi Akuzawa Becomes the Oldest Person to Climb Mount Fuji Again.

International | Dated: 09 Sep 2025

On August 5, 2025, Kokichi Akuzawa, aged 102, made history by becoming the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji, a record officially recognized by Guinness World Records, six years after setting the same record at age 96.

🎯 Key Highlights:

  • - Akuzawa completed the 12,388-foot (3,776-meter) climb over three days, supported by his 70-year-old daughter, her husband, and close friends.
  • - In preparation, he trained for three months, waking up at 5 a.m. for hour-long walks and ascending smaller mountains each week in Nagano Prefecture.
  • - Despite battling heart conditions, shingles, and injuries from a fall, Akuzawa persevered, driven by both passion and emotional support.

💡 Other Important Facts:

  • (i) Akuzawa now holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest person to summit Mount Fuji—a title first earned in 2019 at age 96, and now reclaimed at 102 years old.
  • (ii) He candidly admitted that he was “really tempted to give up halfway through,” but reached the summit thanks to encouragement from his family and friends.
  • (iii) A former engine design engineer and later livestock artificial inseminator until age 85, Akuzawa continues to find purpose in volunteering and painting, with aspirations to paint Mount Fuji’s sunrise as a tribute to his extraordinary journey.

📚 Test Your Knowledge:

Who recently set the Guinness World Record as the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji at the age of 102?

Correct Answer: Kokichi Akuzawa

🚀 Quick Recap: