102-Year-Old Japanese Man Becomes Oldest To Summit Mount Fuji
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
Climbing Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest mountain, is no small feat, even for experienced hikers. The ascent involves a grueling 12,388-foot (3,776 m) climb, challenging terrain, and rapidly changing weather. The descent can be just as demanding, with loose rocks and gravel making every step wobbly. But none of that could stop Kokichi Akuzawa. On August 5, 2025, the 102-year-old Japanese man became the oldest person ever to reach the summit, setting a new Guinness World Record.
An avid climber, Akuzawa had conquered Fuji before — at age 96. But the record for the oldest climber still eluded him. Determined to claim that title, he decided to try again.
The road to the summit, however, was anything but easy. In the months leading up to the climb, Akuzawa faced several setbacks. In January, he tripped and hurt himself while hiking near his home. Soon after, he came down with shingles and later faced heart problems. Once he recovered, the 102-year-old followed a strict training routine. He walked for an hour each morning and climbed smaller mountains nearly every week. After months of preparation, he was finally ready for the challenge.
Akuzawa set off on August 3, 2025, accompanied by a small group of hikers and his 70-year-old daughter, Motoe. They chose the Yoshida route. Though considered the easiest of the four paths to the summit, it is still challenging. While most hikers finish the climb in about six hours, Akuzawa was not in a hurry. He stretched the journey over three days, spending the nights at mountain huts along the way to rest before pushing higher toward the peak.
The weather was pleasant for much of the climb. But as the group gained elevation, they faced strong, chilly winds. The thin air and low pressure made each step even harder, and on the third day, Akuzawa nearly gave up. However, Motoe encouraged him to continue, and with her help, he finally reached the peak at 11:00 am on August 5, 2025. The 102-year-old celebrated his feat by signing the visitors book at the Fujisan Sengen Shrine on the summit.
"It was tough, and it felt a lot different to the last time I climbed it," Akuzawa later said. "I'm amazed that I made it to the top. I couldn't have done it without everyone's help. I'm feeling pleased now."
Akuzawa currently has no plans to climb the mountain again. However, he has not ruled out the possibility of changing his mind in the future.
"If you ask me next year, maybe you'll get a different answer, but for now, I'm happy with that climb," he quipped.
Resources: Guinnessworldrecords.com, theindependent.com, Smithsonianmag.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
35 Comments
i_love_taytay19 daysI cant even climb that
bellabigbac21 daysi wish i was like him- bellabigbac21 dayswow this guy is amazing
- sawenutujywo24 daysMount Fuji is a volcano
426606about 1 monthnever could do that my great-grandmother died 97
odinatorabout 1 monthso cool i wish i lived there i love mountain climbing but missouri is way to flat- rojiguligeceabout 1 monthi could not do that and I'm 12
bobssabout 1 monththis is proof to never give up, even WHEN YOUR 102 YEARS OLD this guy truly is amazing i think he looks young for his age. Climbing a 12,388 foot mountain I think he deserves more than just a Guinness world record!- bellabigbac21 daysyea, he really does
henley_jamesabout 1 monthI feel bad that guy must be aching!- videhamipoloabout 1 monthThats crazy that a 102 year old man became the oldest man to climb Mount Fuji! (Respect this man)