Junko Tabei

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• artoflivingThe year was 1975, and Junko Tabei stood at the highest peak in the world with awe and tiredness overwhelming her being. She had just created history by becoming the first woman to climb the highest point of Earth. 
  She remembered the difficult journey to the top. How she had to traverse a knife-edge ridge on her way up. How in one instance her camp was buried by an avalanche. How she had become unconscious, and a sherpa helped her regain her awareness. 
  Finally, it was all worth it.
  
  Her journey to this memorable expedition was an equally arduous one. As a child when she developed a love for climbing mountains, she was considered too weak. As an adult, when she organized a climbing club, she was told to raise children instead.
  
  But, Junko’s dream was too strong to let anyone or anything deter her. Not even lack of funds for her dream expedition! 
  She worked as a piano and an English teacher to collect funds. Her strong will even got her some sponsorship from Nippon Televisions and the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.
  
  After climbing the Everest, she went on to become the first woman to climb the highest peak in every continent.
  
  We are inspired by Junko’s passion and her historical feat in a previously male-dominated field.
  
  We invite you to discover your passions in the 8th International Women’s Conference.
  Sign up: www.artofliving.org/iwc #WomenWhoMatter