Junko Tabei- The Inspirational Mountaineering Legend

Junko Tabei

Celebrated Legendary Mountaineer

by Syra Merchant

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FLASHBACK!

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Almost there....

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Mount Everest, May 16, 1975

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Junko Ishibashi Tabei was born on September 22, 1939 in Japan.

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Junko's Mom

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Junko

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When Ishibashi was 10, her teacher announced a class trip to Mount Nasu. Junko was very excited to try this new sport.

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Junko Tabei

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Let's climb a mountain!

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The boys in her class made fun of her for wanting to try climbing. Junko became discouraged.

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Maybe I shouldn't go....

Junko thought about how proud she would be if she climbed the mountain. Soon, when the day came, she performed flawlessly.

After that, she used all the opportunities she could, to climb mountains.

She went to Showa women's University in 1958, studying English to prepare to become a teacher. Later though, she started climbing again. She was not being welcomed as much into male climbing teams, but she did not let that stop her.

I, Mount Nasu, am one of the Many Mountains that junko tabei has set foot on!

When Ishibashi was 27, she married Masanobu Tabei, a male climber who supported her. Later, she had two kids with him, a boy and a girl. Shinya Tabei and Noriko Tabei.

Soon, she founded the women's climbing club, the first group of women climbers. They successfully climbed the mountain Annapurna III. People started to climb with women as well, recently finding out that they were capable.

Tabei died in the October of 2016. Her husband and children still live on.

The Mountaineering Legend who will always inspire.

Famous Quote by Junko Tabei:

Technique and ability alone do not get you to the top; it is the willpower that is the most important. This willpower you cannot buy with money, or be given by others... it rises from the heart.