Bodybuilding: 90-Year-Old Competes in Spain

Toshisuke Kanazawa entered the stage in Santa Susanna, Spain, on Friday to contest a bodybuilding title against opponents decades younger than himself. The 90-year-old Japanese athlete participated in the masters category, an open division for competitors aged 50 and older, during an event hosted by the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation on the Costa del Maresme. His appearance challenged standard perceptions of physical peak performance in the sport.

Kanazawa prepared for his turn under the lights using the same protocols as his younger rivals. He warmed up with his team and applied spray tan backstage. Despite the rigorous routine, the nonagenarian did not secure a place on the podium. He acknowledged the gap in physical presentation, noting that aging brings visible changes that affect how judges perceive the body.

“As you get older, you start developing wrinkles, quite a lot of them. In Japan, there’s this idea that once you get those wrinkles, it just doesn’t look very good anymore,” Kanazawa said. He cited this cultural expectation as a factor in his decision to limit his competitive career. He plans to attempt one final competition at age 93 before retiring.

The competitor attributes his endurance and muscular development to a dietary regimen established when he turned 50. He follows a strictly Japanese eating pattern consisting of brown rice, natto, and miso soup. Kanazawa stated that this routine has allowed him to reach his ninetieth year without illness.

“This is something I’ve been researching and want to learn more about. But ever since I turned 50, I’ve been building muscle by eating a purely Japanese diet: brown rice, natto (a fermented soya bean dish), and miso soup,” he said. He described the regimen as the classic Japanese way of eating and credited it for his health.

Kanazawa expressed a desire to continue the sport for the remainder of his life. He views his participation as an effort to complete feats few others have achieved. “I like to try doing things that nobody else has done, and more than anything I want to pursue bodybuilding for the rest of my life,” he said. His goal is to serve as an example for older athletes who aim to maintain active lifestyles.

He emphasized the mental component of the sport in his closing remarks. “Once you set your mind to something, you need to develop the mental strength and determination to see it through no matter what,” Kanazawa said. He hopes his example encourages others to work hard and remain active as they age.