Kokishi Akiwaza, at the age of 102, has become the oldest person in the world to climb Japan’s Mount Fuji.


In fact, at one point he was about to give up and turn back, but then decided to continue his journey.


His name has now been entered into the Guinness World Records.



Kokishi Akiwaza said, “Halfway up I was about to give up because reaching the summit felt very difficult, but my friends encouraged me, and I managed to make it to the top.”


He climbed the peak along with his 70-year-old daughter Motoi, his granddaughter and her husband, and four friends from a mountaineering club.


The group camped for two nights before starting the climb to the summit on August 5.




Mount Fuji is Japan’s highest peak, standing at 3,776 meters.


He said, “I am impressed with myself for succeeding in mountaineering. I didn’t see my age as a limitation, because as long as you have the courage, you can climb mountains.”


This wasn’t his first time conquering Mount Fuji. At the age of 96, he climbed Japan’s tallest peak for the first time.


At that time as well, he was recognized as the oldest person to reach the summit.


Over the past six years, he has suffered from heart failure and other cardiovascular issues, and once required stitches after a fall during a mountaineering expedition.


To prepare for his second ascent of Mount Fuji at the age of 102, Kokishi Akiwaza trained for three months.


He would go for a four-hour walk starting at 5 a.m. every morning, and each week he climbed a mountain around Nagano in central Japan.


Akiwaza, who comes from Maebashi in Japan, first developed an interest in mountaineering 88 years ago.


He explained, “I climb mountains simply because I enjoy it. It’s very easy to make friends on mountains.”


He first worked as an engine design engineer, and later shifted to the livestock industry, where he continued working until the age of 85.


In the past, he preferred to climb mountains alone, but as he grew older and physically less strong, he began climbing with others.


He said, “Mount Fuji is not a difficult mountain to climb, but this time it was tougher than six years ago. I have never felt this weak before, nor have I ever been in so much pain.”


He added, “I will always love mountaineering, but I think I won’t be able to do it anymore.