Kanazawa secured the win just one day after celebrating his 90th birthday, capping nearly seven decades of involvement in the sport.
Competition Details in Hiroshima
Approximately 200 athletes ranging from age 41 to 90 participated across 13 different categories at the Hiroshima event. Kanazawa competed against six other competitors in the 85-and-over division.
The competition format required all division competitors to perform a mandatory posing routine together during the preliminary round. Finalists then returned to the stage for individual one-minute free-posing routines. Spectators at the venue responded with loud cheers when judges announced Kanazawa as the winner.
Historical Context and Athletic Background
Born in August 1936—three years before the start of World War II in Europe—Kanazawa entered the sport during his 20s after initially competing as a 1,500-meter swimmer. According to records from the Hiroshima Training Center, where Kanazawa serves as chairman, he initially used bodybuilding as supplementary training before becoming fascinated with building his physique.
Kanazawa established himself as a top competitor nationally during the late 1950s and early 1960s. He placed third at the Mr. Japan competition in 1958, finished second in 1959, and captured the championship title in 1960. He won the Mr. Japan title a second time in 1963 and finished as the runner-up the following year. On the international stage, he secured a fourth-place finish at the 1967 IFBB Universe competition.
Decades-Long Return to Competition
After stepping away from competitive bodybuilding in his 30s, Kanazawa returned to serious training around the age of 50. His return was partly motivated by a desire to improve himself and encourage his wife by demonstrating what could still be accomplished through training.
His multi-decade comeback included an appearance at the 2022 IFBB World Men’s Bodybuilding Championships in Spain. Competing in the Masters 60-and-over category at age 86 against athletes decades younger, official results listed him at 60.8 kilograms (approximately 134 pounds), where he finished 12th. Having met his milestone goal of competing until age 90, Kanazawa continues to train and eye future athletic milestones.
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