Kokichi Akuzawa, aged 102, from Maebashi in Japan, has recently become the oldest person ever to climb Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain. He trained for three months before scaling the 3,776 metres (12,388 feet) to Fuji’s summit. His story is remarkable.
Since the age of 14, Akuzawa has been in awe of the mountains, both their beauty and the adventurous challenge of climbing different peaks. Now aged 102, he knows he can no longer take on these incredible feats solo, yet alongside the rest of the expedition team made up of his daughter, Motoe, his granddaughter, her husband, and four friends from a climbing club, he has gained a team spirit that drives him on. “I was really tempted to give up halfway”, Akuzawa admitted, “but my friends encouraged me” and “so many people supported me”, that is how “I managed to get through”.
With or without other people though, this record-breaking feat is nothing short of extraordinary. Yet if there was a person capable of doing it, it would be Akuzawa. He had actually already broken the same record before, aged 96, but was determined to go one further and try again. Just in the period between breaking the two records alone he suffered from heart issues, shingles and stitches as a result of climbing accidents, so after 88 years of experience, perhaps it is no surprise that he has built such resilience.
“I want to paint scenes from the summit of Mount Fuji…since this was probably my last time reaching the top.”
Away from climbing, Akuzawa worked full time until he was 85, a worthy achievement in itself, and he still volunteers at a senior care centre and teaches painting in his studio. Again, it is clear to see how such dedication and care for others has translated into his ability to keep on climbing with his team despite his age and physical condition.
Akuzawa has said that he would “love to keep climbing forever”, but has admitted that that is unlikely. He has no plans to stop his love for the mountains though, both in climbing, with Mount Akagi (just under half the height of Mount Fuji) his limit now, and in his painting: “I want to paint some scenes from the summit of Mount Fuji, places that hold special memories for me, since this was probably my last time reaching the top”.
Whatever lies next for Akuzawa, his story is certainly a monumental one.
