Akuzawa, the 102-year-old mountaineer from Maebashi, has kept making headlines. As of last month, he is the oldest person to reach the summit of Japan’s Mount Fuji. In the past six years, Akuzawa has dealt with heart complications, shingles, and even recovery from stitches after a climb-fall. Through it all, he pulled off this amazing feat with the support of his family and friends. As glorious as the journey to the summit has been, it may indeed be his final return to that mountaintop.
Originally from Hirakawa, Akuzawa went to climb Japan’s most famous mountain. He was accompanied by his 70-year-old daughter Motoe, his granddaughter, his granddaughter’s husband, and four friends from a local mountain climbing club. He spent three months preparing for this ascent. Each day, he rose at 5 a.m. to take one-hour walks and climbed an average of one mountain per week. His focus and grit were evident as he trained to achieve this daunting objective.
“It’s easy to make friends on the mountain,” Akuzawa remarked, highlighting the camaraderie that comes with climbing. What he values most is the shared journey and joy of climbing with family members and friends to reach the top.
Even in light of his success, Akuzawa was the first to admit that this particular ascent was more challenging than any he’d previously completed. “Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago. Harder than any mountain before,” he noted. His former title as the oldest person to climb Mount Fuji was set when he was only 96 years old!
Beyond his climbing accomplishments, Akuzawa is an avid painter. He expressed his desire to capture scenes from Mount Fuji, saying, “I want to paint some scenes from the summit of Mount Fuji, places that hold special memories for me, since this was likely my last time reaching the top.” Painting and mountaineering provide him with peace and fulfillment, as he believes that “people who climb mountains, people who paint; if they can create something whole on that path, that’s the most fulfilling thing.”
Over his long life, Akuzawa has had a variety of careers. He then became an engine design engineer, and finally a livestock artificial inseminator until age 85. These days, he spends his mornings volunteering at a senior care home and teaching painting at his studio. At home, framed paintings of mountains decorate the walls as he sits between his two worlds. Looking back on what first inspired him to scale the mighty summits nearly 88 years ago.
As he reflects on his journey thus far, Akuzawa remains appreciative for the growth made both in mountaineering and painting. He believes that “whether you liked studying or not, you could enjoy the mountain just the same.” He thought intelligence was irrelevant to climbing. Instead, he believed that all climbers were on equal footing, working towards their respective goals in the effort together.
