No Meat, No Fish: 90-Year-Old Japanese Bodybuilder Shares His All-Vegetarian Diet

At 90, most people may be thinking about slowing down, but Toshisuke Kanazawa is still stepping onto the bodybuilding stage—and winning.

The Japanese bodybuilder recently made headlines after claiming the 85-and-over category at the All Japan Masters Fitness Championships, just one day after his 90th birthday. The victory marked his 19th national title.

His age and remarkable consistency have drawn plenty of attention, but his diet has also become a talking point. Kanazawa has avoided meat and fish for decades, relying largely on vegetarian foods while continuing to train and compete.

WHAT DOES THE 90-YEAR-OLD BODYBUILDER EAT?

In an interview with CNN, Kanazawa said he stopped eating meat and fish when he returned to bodybuilding at the age of 50.

His daily meals are relatively simple and built around traditional Japanese staples.

Breakfast usually consists of brown rice, natto and miso soup. Natto is fermented soybeans and provides plant-based protein, while miso soup is made using fermented soybean paste.

For lunch and dinner, Kanazawa typically eats brown rice topped with a small amount of furikake, a Japanese seasoning commonly sprinkled over rice.

He also has a protein drink three times a day.

There are no elaborate diet plans or complicated food routines in his account—just a consistent eating pattern that he has followed for years.

Kanazawa is also not the only bodybuilder to follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Athletes such as Nimai Delgado and Anil Gochikar have also spoken publicly about plant-based diets, with their nutritional plans focused on meeting protein and other nutrient requirements.

HIS APPROACH TO AGEING

Kanazawa believes ageing cannot be stopped, but says he continues to work on ways to slow the process through training and nutrition.

“Ageing is something you simply cannot control. I am just continuously striving to see how we can slow down ageing through diet and training,” he told CNN.

His ambition extends well beyond his current age. Kanazawa has said he hopes to live to 130 and continues to pursue new goals in bodybuilding.

His journey back into competitive fitness began at 50. He had originally stepped away from bodybuilding competitions at 34, but returned after his wife became ill. Seeing him compete and win gave her something to look forward to, and even after her death, Kanazawa continued competing.

STILL CHASING NEW GOALS AT 90

Retirement does not appear to be part of Kanazawa’s immediate plans.

He now hopes to compete in the over-60 category at the World Championships and has another long-standing ambition: meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger, whom he has admired for decades.

“Even though I am only 10 years older than Arnold, I want to show him what I can do,” Kanazawa said.

His story is certainly striking, but his diet should not be viewed as a guaranteed formula for longevity. Ageing and health are influenced by numerous factors, including genetics, physical activity, overall nutrition, lifestyle and individual health conditions.

What stands out in Kanazawa’s story is the consistency. At 90, he continues to train, compete and set new goals—a routine built around discipline and a determination to keep challenging himself.