STEP BY STEP: THE JUNKO TABEI-INSPIRED RESEARCH JOURNEY

By Anita Yasuda   

 

On the morning of May 16, 1975, Junko Tabei became the first woman to summit Mount Everest. How did she do it? One step at a time: Up, Up, Ever Up! You, too, will succeed in your research journey one step at a time by setting a course, planning, using the proper gear, and with a supportive team.

 

1. Pick Your Target 

Junko and the other 14 members of the Japanese all-women team chose Everest after careful consideration and research. I decided on Junko as my subject using the same method. As an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, I wanted to write a story about mountaineering and a female climber. I also have friends involved in mountain climbing and have always found their stories of high-altitude adventures thrilling. Likewise, write about a subject that makes your heart sing. If it has caught your interest, someone else will also be intrigued. Do not worry if someone else has written on the same subject. Just as there are a variety of wilderness trails, from short walks to adventures requiring ropes and ice axes, a unique story angle combined with your voice will help make your manuscript stand out.

 

2. Master The Ropes

Climbers only plunge into the wilderness after setting a course. You can avoid becoming tangled in research through planning, too. Decide on day one how you will collect and organize your research. Are you team pencil and paper? With this approach, your subject becomes clearer, sentence by sentence. Do you prefer journaling, which includes drawing and adding physical materials such as photographs or newspaper articles into a file? Using this method, visual thinkers will see their story taking shape. Are you team virtual? When I began researching Junko, I planned on travelling to Japan and Nepal. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these plans had to be put aside. So, using Word, I set up a research file that would include over 100 footnotes to keep track of every source, quote and statistic. The file had subheadings, including Junko’s childhood, first hike, and family. 

 

3. Get The Gear 

When climbing, you need to dress in layers; in writing, layers are also essential. To better understand Junko, I researched widely. Secondary sources, including journals and newspaper articles, gave me a sense of Junko, the team's difficulties, and the period. Through my local library, I took advantage of interlibrary loans. I was then able to access more extensive state and international libraries. I accessed journals, including JSTOR, and newspaper archives in Japan through my university’s alumni lending program. I watched online interviews and eventually created a list of experts I contacted, including Junko's best friend and fellow Everest climber, translator, colleagues, and friends worldwide. They helped me clarify my information and add details to my manuscript that hadn't appeared in print before. 

 

4. Prepare For The Avalanche 

Mountaineers learn as much as they can about avalanche risk before heading out. They study the forecast, take courses, and venture out prepared with gear such as crampons and helmets. When you feel overwhelmed by research, take a break. Be kind to yourself. A long walk or putting away your work for weeks or months will help you achieve clarity. Another tip is to write down your book's hook and keep it on your writing desk or your computer. My hook in presenting Junko's life combined her achievements with her humanitarian and environmental legacy.

 

5. Teamwork 

All successful mountaineering expeditions require a solid team. Writing does not have to be a solitary activity. Share your story with trusted critique partners. Even if you do not have a draft ready, share your enthusiasm for your project. When you explain your project aloud, it will remind you why you began the journey. These critique partners will be essential as you revise and rewrite. Rewriting is a beautiful way to hone your craft. Feedback that resonates with you can help you chip away at your manuscript until you have a clear story path from beginning to end.

 

See you at the summit!

Be kind to yourself. Researching and drafting a book is a process. There may be obstacles on the journey, but with each piece of information and revision, you will be closer to the summit. One day, a child will be happy you did.

 

About the Author 

Anita Yasuda is the author of UP, UP, EVER UP! JUNKO TABEI A LIFE IN THE MOUNTAINS , illustrated by Yuko Shimizu (Clarion, 2024); DIWALI: A FESTIVAL OF JOY , illustrated by Darshika Varma (Penguin Random House, 2024); and BOLLYWOOD BEAT, illustrated by Archana Sreenivasan (Kids Can Press, 2025), as well as many other books for young readers. She has a background in Montessori and early childhood education. Anita lives in the rolling hills of Ontario with her family.