06/06/2025
Junko Tabei – The First Woman to Conquer Mount Everest
Junko Tabei (1939–2016) was a pioneering Japanese mountaineer who made history by becoming the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 16, 1975. But her achievements didn’t stop there — she was also the first woman to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each of the seven continents.
Born in Fukushima, Japan, Tabei faced social barriers in a time when women were discouraged from engaging in adventurous pursuits like mountaineering. Despite financial challenges and gender stereotypes, her determination never wavered. She founded the Ladies Climbing Club: Japan in 1969, the first all-women’s climbing club in the country, with the slogan “Let’s go on an overseas expedition by ourselves.”
During her Everest expedition, she was buried by an avalanche at Camp II but miraculously survived and continued the climb. Just 12 days later, she stood on top of the world.
Beyond climbing, Tabei was an environmentalist who raised awareness about the degradation of mountain ecosystems, especially on Everest. She led expeditions well into her 70s and climbed more than 70 major peaks across the globe.
Junko Tabei’s courage, resilience, and pioneering spirit continue to inspire adventurers and women around the world. She proved that mountains are not climbed with strength alone — but with unwavering willpower and purpose.
