102-Year-Old Man Sets Record for Climbing Mount Fuji

He’s reaching new heights.

A 102-year-old man from Japan has set the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to climb to the summit of Mount Fuji for the second time.

Centenarian Kokichi Akuzawa climbed to the top of the 12,388-foot Japanese peak on Aug. 5 with the help of his 70-year-old daughter, her husband and some friends.

“I’m impressed I climbed so well,” the man born in 1923 told the Associated Press.

Overcoming Challenges

“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” Akuzawa told the Associated Press. “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.”

The supportive climbing party accompanied Kokich over the course of three days as he took the scenic and steep route to the summit.

Training and Persistence

Akuzawa spent three months training for the journey — waking up at 5 a.m., going for hours-long walks, and practicing on smaller mountains around his native Nagano prefecture.

He previously set the record for the oldest person to scale Fuji at the age of 96, overcoming dreaded shingles, heart issues, and a climbing fall before setting forth towards the mountain again.

A Humble Achievement

“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.”

But the humble two-time world record holder said he’s not out for glory.

“I climb because I like it,” he said. “It’s easy to make friends on the mountain.”

A Life of Passion

A man of passions, Akuzawa was a trained engine design engineer and chose to work as a livestock artificial inseminator until the age of 85.

“Whether you liked studying or not, you could enjoy the mountain the same,” he said. “Intelligence didn’t matter up there. We were all on equal footing and moved forward together.”

Continuing Legacy

His footing, however, may never again have a hold on the rocks of Fuji.

“I’d love to keep climbing forever, but I guess I can’t anymore,” he said.

Mount Fuji is the 35th highest peak in the world and is treacherous for climbers less than half Akuzawa’s age.

Back in April, a climber from China had to be rescued from the mountain twice in one week after going back to retrieve a cell phone.