TOKYO: A 90-year-old Japanese bodybuilder, Toshisuke Kanazawa, has drawn international attention for maintaining his physical strength and fitness well into old age.
According to international media reports, Kanazawa recently won the over-85 category at the Japan Masters Bodybuilding Championships, bringing his total number of national titles to 19.
He also competed in the IFBB World Fitness and Bodybuilding Championships, held in Santa Susanna, Spain, on October 30. Although he did not secure a podium finish, he competed against athletes several decades younger than himself.
Kanazawa credits much of his fitness to a traditional Japanese diet, which he began following at around the age of 50. His meals include brown rice, natto, miso soup and raw eggs. He previously consumed six protein shakes daily but reduced the number to three with age. He has also stopped eating meat and fish.
He has never smoked or consumed alcohol and continues to exercise regularly. As he has grown older, he has shifted towards gym machines that allow him to adjust weights and movements according to his physical capacity.
Health experts advise older adults to choose exercise routines suited to their health and medical conditions. The World Health Organization recommends that people aged 65 and above engage in muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week.