Kokichi Akuzawa, a 102-year-old man from Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture, became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain at 3,776 meters, on August 5. Guinness World Records officially recognized his achievement after the climb. He was joined by his 70-year-old daughter, Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a local climbing club. The group camped for two nights before the final push to the top. Although Akuzawa admitted he nearly gave up midway, encouragement from his companions and his own tenacity allowed him to complete the historic climb.

This was not Akuzawa’s first record. He had already been acknowledged at age 96 for summiting Fuji. In the years between, he showed a resilient spirit by recovering from heart problems, shingles, and injuries. Before the recent climb, he trained for three months by waking early for long walks and climbing smaller mountains near Nagano. Despite his determination, Akuzawa admitted that this ascent was the hardest, saying his stamina was weaker than before. Now, he plans to focus on nearby peaks such as Mount Akagi, which is about half Fuji’s height. In daily life, he volunteers at a senior center and teaches painting, capturing the richness of nature in his artwork. His family hopes he will next portray Fuji at sunrise, perhaps even painting the resinous forests and mountain paths that framed his final journey, preserving memories of what he believes was his last climb.