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

Tokyo (CNN) - Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest, has died at the age of 77, according to Japanese media reports.

Tabei passed away on Thursday at a hospital outside Tokyo after battling cancer, the reports said.

Tabei reached the summit of the world's highest mountain in 1975. In 1992, she became the first woman to complete the "Seven Summits," which involves climbing the highest peaks in every continent.

She gained fame after her accomplishment on Everest but remained modest about herself. In 1996, she told Sports Illustrated, "I was the 36th person to climb Everest."

Tabei climbed peaks in over 60 countries, according to the Japanese news agency Kyodo News.

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