Toshisuke Kanazawa, a 90-year-old Japanese bodybuilder still competing at the highest level, has won another national title. Taking his 19th career title in Japan, Kanazawa pointed to his diet as the secret to staying healthy.
Kanazawa, 90, who runs a gym in Hiroshima, competed as the oldest entrant in the 85-and-over division at the Japan Masters Championships held in Hiroshima on Aug. 30 and won, according to Japanese media outlets including FNN Prime Online, affiliated with Fuji TV, and TV Shin-Hiroshima. The victory marked his 19th national title in Japan, comprising 17 Masters titles and two Japan Championships.
In an interview with TV Shin-Hiroshima, Kanazawa said, "At 90, I learned once again that people must endure and keep striving even as they grow older." He added, "I was able to win a 19th title because I have kept pushing forward with the determination not to lose in life."
Born in Shimane Prefecture in 1936, Kanazawa was a promising swimmer in high school. But after a muscle injury ended his hopes of competing at the Olympics, he switched to bodybuilding at 20. He then trained six hours a day for five years and won the Mr. Japan title at 24.
He later took on the world stage. At the 1967 Mr. Universe contest in Montreal, Canada, he finished fourth in a field that included Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Kanazawa retired at 34 and returned to competition at 50. He took up training again around the time his wife fell seriously ill, wanting to show her that anything was possible.
Seven years after his comeback, at 57, he won a Masters event open to competitors aged 40 and over. He continued entering Japanese bodybuilding competitions past the age of 80, and in 2022 he competed at the IFBB World Bodybuilding Championships in Spain.
Intense Training and a Healthy Diet
Even at 90, he puts in demanding workouts every day. He trains two hours a day, splitting his routine by body part according to the day of the week, focusing on working each muscle group hard enough to fully fatigue it.
Kanazawa named meals as the single most important factor in maintaining his health. "The food we eat becomes our blood and builds our muscle," he said. "The foundation has to be healthy, and that is why eating matters." Since the age of 50, Kanazawa has kept to a Japanese diet centered on rice, miso soup and natto, or fermented soybeans. More recently he has added blueberries to his daily routine.
His original goal was to remain an active bodybuilder until 90. Having reached it, Kanazawa is now setting his sights on a world record. "If I can keep competing until 93, I want to set a major world record," he said. The oldest male bodybuilder currently recognized by Guinness World Records is Jim Arrington of the United States, who set the mark in 2022 when he competed in a professional bodybuilding contest at the age of 90 years and 38 days.
Kanazawa is scheduled to compete in the Japan Men's Bodybuilding Championships on Oct. 11.
