Junko Tabei, first woman to climb Everest, dies at 77

She reached the summit of the highest mountain in 1975, but in all humility said she was only the 36th person to do so.

This file photo taken on May 16, 2003 shows Junko Tabei of Japan speaking during an interview with Agence France-Presse in Tokyo. Tabei, the first woman to conquer Mount Everest, died at 77, media reported on Saturday. She completed the first conquest of Mount Everest by a woman in 1975, accomplishing the feat via the southeast ridge route.

Japanese media reports have said that the first woman to climb Mount Everest has died.

Junko Tabei died on Thursday of cancer at a hospital outside of Tokyo, according to the reports. She was 77.

She did it in 1975

Tabei reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain in 1975. In 1992, she also became the first woman to complete the “Seven Summits,” reaching the highest peaks of the seven continents.

She gained world fame after the Everest feat, but played it down, telling Sports Illustrated in a 1996 profile- “I was the 36th person to climb Everest.”

Japan’s Kyodo News agency said that Tabei scaled peaks in more than 60 countries.

Climbing despite cancer

Japanese public broadcaster NHK said she continued climbing even after being diagnosed with cancer four years ago.