March 11th, 2021

Born in Miharu, Fukushima in 1939, Junko fell in love with climbing at ten years old on a class trip to Japan’s Mounts Asahi and Chausu. She began climbing in earnest with a mountain climbing club while she pursued a degree in literature and education at Showa Women’s University. Most often, she was the only woman on climbing trips and at club meetings.

Some of the men refused to climb with her, others accused of being there just to find a husband. She persevered, forming relationships with some of the more welcoming older climbers, and in 1969 founded her own climbing club—this one for women.

In 1975, Japanese mountaineer Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mt. Everest, the world's tallest mountain. After facing sexism from men who told her the hazardous trek was too difficult for women, Tabei organized an all-female climbing club. On her summiting trip, she co-led a group of 15 women. Tabei went on to become the first woman to reach all Seven Summits, the highest peaks on each continent.