UP, UP, EVER UP!

Climber, climate activist, mother, and inspiration.

Growing up in Japan, Junko Tabei (1939-2016) was eager to scale mountains even as a child. From her first climb of Mount Chausu at age 10, Junko knew this life was for her. As an adult, she often heard the message that mountains weren’t for women, that she should stay home with her family. A determined Junko “became a mother who climbed for her daughter” and set an ambitious goal—becoming the first woman to climb Mount Everest. “Ganbarimasu!” she and her fellow female climbers say, a Japanese word translated as “We will give it our best.” With the help of Tibetan Sherpas, an all-female team of climbers, and her own ingenuity using kimonos to create gear, she reached the top, despite a devastating avalanche. But this would not be Junko’s last mountain to climb, nor her last trip to Everest. Concerned about the environmental cost of the litter left on the famous mountain and the future of the Tibetan people, she gave back and inspired through words and deeds—cleaning the slopes and planting trees. Yasuda’s captivating, poetic prose weaves powerful metaphors and cultural touchstones into this powerful biography. Shimizu’s dreamy illustrations layer calligraphy-brushed outlines in India ink with digital color to immerse readers in blue skies, pink blossoms, and white mountain snow—Junko’s home.

A joyous celebration of a life built on resilient dreams.