Recalling his long and illustrious career, Toshisuke Kanazawa unexpectedly interrupted the reporter with a proposition: "Shall I take off my shirt now?" He then bared his torso, revealing a smooth, tanned upper body, a firm chest, and prominent veins like cables extending across his arms—the result of thousands of dedicated hours in the gym.

On 30/8, the 90-year-old bodybuilder won the over 85-year-old category at the Japan Masters Bodybuilding Championship in Hiroshima. This achievement brought his total national championships to 19, garnering significant international media attention.

At the gym he manages in Hiroshima, Kanazawa sipped green tea and humorously recounted his victory over seven competitors. He affirmed that this was certainly not his last title.

Toshisuke Kanazawa showcases his physique on stage. Photo: Instagram

Born in 1936 in Shimane province, Kanazawa was a talented 1,500 m freestyle swimmer. After a muscle injury ended his Olympic dreams, Kanazawa decided to pursue a career as a professional bodybuilder. "My mother was skeptical but supportive, while my father strongly objected, believing that young men should work," he recounted. "I told my parents I wanted to become the best in Japan and asked for a few years to achieve that goal."

For the next 5 years, he lived almost in seclusion, diligently training for 6 hours daily and maintaining his physique with simple meals prepared by his mother. He occasionally used money earned from delivering electrical appliances to buy milk and cheese.

At 24, Kanazawa fulfilled his promise to his parents by winning the "Mr. Japan" title, a feat he repeated three years later. He went on to earn numerous medals and competed at the Mr. Universe competition in 1967 in Montreal, Canada, alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and champion Sergio Oliva. After finishing fourth in that year's competition, he has since claimed six more World Masters championships after turning 80.

Kanazawa is not the only one defying age in Japan. At 59, Kazuyoshi Miura is the world's oldest professional football player still active, while swimmer Shoko Yonezawa continues to set world records at 91. On his 88th birthday this month, sailor Kenichi Horie announced he would undertake another solo trans-Pacific voyage next spring. Last year, Shintaro Okuyama completed an official marathon at 96, finishing in 8 hours 43 minutes 46 seconds.

According to Kanazawa, a healthy lifestyle is key to his longevity and endurance for exercises like pull-ups and leg presses. He has never smoked or consumed alcohol, having given up meat and fish decades ago. His daily diet primarily consists of brown rice sprinkled with furikake, natto (fermented soybeans), and miso soup with a few raw eggs.

"I used to drink six protein shakes a day, but now I've reduced it to three. As I get older, my stomach finds it harder to tolerate as much liquid as before," he explained. Kanazawa has also made other adjustments to his training, no longer performing squats or bench presses, and switching to specialized machines instead of free weights. "I only do what's best for my body at this age," he said.

He has never suffered from serious illness and stated that his most recent health check-up showed metrics comparable to those of younger individuals. "Recovery after weight training sessions takes longer than before, so I always prioritize adequate rest between sets and sleep about seven hours each night," Kanazawa shared. He still trains for 2 hours, 6 days a week, at his gym.

"I developed my muscles 100% naturally," he stated, asserting that his achievements stem from persistence, not performance-enhancing drugs. "And I'm still sharp, aren't I?"

After winning the "Mr. Japan" title twice, he retired in his under 40s but decided to make a comeback at 50 to inspire his wife, who was battling a chronic illness. Seven years later, he triumphantly won the masters championship, a period he considers the peak of his physical condition.

As Japan faces a super-aging population, with nearly 30% of residents over 64 and more than 100,000 centenarians, Kanazawa worries about many older people prematurely abandoning exercise. "It's like when your leg muscles start to weaken, and you accept it just because you think it's an inevitable rule. I never wanted that, which is why I continue to train. I want to be a bodybuilder until the last day of my life," Kanazawa confided.

Binh Minh (According to The Guardian)