According to CNN , Mr. Kokichi Akuzawa achieved this feat after reaching the summit of Japan's iconic mountain on August 5th, at the age of 102.
"There were many times I wanted to give up halfway through. Thanks to the encouragement of family and friends, I was able to complete this challenge," Mr. Akuzawa shared.
Reportedly, accompanying the 102-year-old man on this journey were his daughter, his granddaughter and her husband, and four friends from a local mountaineering club. The group camped for two nights on the trail before reaching the summit.
"I never imagined I could still climb this high at my age," the old man expressed.
Previously, at the age of 96, Mr. Akuzawa himself set the record as the oldest person to conquer Mount Fuji. Over the past six years, despite facing numerous health problems ranging from heart disease and shingles to injuries from falls, Mr. Akuzawa has never given up his passion for mountain climbing.
To prepare for this year's journey, he spent three months training rigorously, waking up at 5 a.m. each day to walk for about an hour and climbing at least one mountain each week around Nagano Prefecture in central Japan.
Sharing about his love for mountain climbing that has lasted for 88 years, Mr. Akuzawa said that the most captivating thing is not only the majestic scenery but also the friendships forged on the journey.
"I climb mountains because I love it. It's easy to make friends in the mountains," he said.
The family said Akuzawa was formerly an engine design engineer, then switched to artificial insemination for livestock until he was 85 years old.
"When climbing mountains, our minds don't need to work too hard; we just need to move forward together," Mr. Akuzawa shared, revealing that he used to climb mountains alone. However, declining health has forced him to rely on others for assistance.
The 102-year-old man frankly admitted that this was the most difficult challenge he had ever faced: "Mount Fuji isn't usually a very difficult mountain to climb, but this time I found it much more strenuous than six years ago. I've never felt so weak and slow," Mr. Akuzawa said.
When asked if he would like to attempt this challenge again in the future, Mr. Akuzawa smiled and said that he could only aim for "mountains that are half the size of Mount Fuji near his home."
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/cu-ong-102-tuoi-chinh-phuc-nui-phu-si-cao-hon-3-700m-2440829.html
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