65-yr-old Japanese becomes oldest man to climb Everest.

NAGOYA, May 17 Kyodo

A 65-year-old Japanese man on Friday became the oldest man to climb Mt. Everest, breaking the record set by a 64-year-old American in spring 2001, according to a mountaineering association in Gunma Prefecture.

Tomiyasu Ishikawa, who runs a sporting goods store in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, scaled the world's highest mountain from the Tibet side.

The previous record was held by Sherman Bull of Texas, who reached the summit on May 25, 2001, from the Nepalese side.

It is Ishikawa's second trip to the top of Mt. Everest after reaching it for the first time in 1994. He attempted to become the oldest man to climb the mountain in late May 1999 but had to turn back due to ill health.

The record for the oldest Japanese climber was previously held by Toshio Yamamoto, who made it to the top on May 19, 2000, at the age of 63.

The achievement comes a day after Tamae Watanabe, 63, from Yokohama became the oldest woman to climb Mt. Everest, breaking the record set by a 50-year-old Polish woman in spring 2000.