Japanese bodybuilder shared a stage with Arnold

Toshisuke Kanazawa, a 90-year-old Japanese bodybuilder, recently claimed victory at the All Japan Masters Fitness Championship in the 85-and-over category, claiming his 19th national title. Born in Shimane prefecture on the Japan Sea coast in 1936, Kanazawa was once an Olympic swimmer with ambitions to compete at a high level. However, a muscular issue forced him to abandon those dreams and he turned to bodybuilding instead.

Over the decades, Kanazawa has devoted himself to fitness, eschewing meat, fish, smoking, and alcohol. He has spent hours a day training, and won his first Mister Japan title at 24, eventually securing the title twice more. At 50, Kanazawa returned to competitive bodybuilding and has since won six World Masters championships. His dedication to a clean lifestyle, including a diet consisting mostly of brown rice, furikake, natto, and miso soup with raw eggs, has contributed to his longevity and success.

Kanazawa trained for two hours a day, six days a week at his Hiroshima gym and attributes his impressive physique to his natural approach to bodybuilding, with no use of performance-enhancing drugs or steroids. He continues to train with modifications to his routine as he ages, prioritizing recovery and ensuring he gets ample sleep.