A Japanese housewife who made climbing history May 16, 1975 by becoming the first woman to conquer the world's tallest peak says her achievement was unintended.

"I never intended to set the record," said Junko Tabei, 60, who celebrated the 25th anniversary of her Everest conquest Tuesday.

"Luckily, I was physically capable of reaching the top. But without cooperation from thousands of people, I couldn't have made the ascent," she told Kyodo News recently.