With the beginning of national travel support, there is renewed interest in domestic travel.
JAL, which has bases throughout Japan, has been continuously implementing regional revitalization initiatives (currently the “JAL Furusato Project”). In August 2020, JAL launched the “JAL Furusato Ambassadors,” cabin crew members selected through an in-house recruitment process, who settle in local communities to promote regional initiatives. In December of the same year, JAL appointed “JAL hometown supporters,” who are involved in regional revitalization while serving as flight attendants. The aim is to develop products and solve regional issues for hometowns and other regions with which they have connections, utilizing the knowledge they have accumulated as flight attendants.
We interviewed Ms. Kanako Nakane and Ms. Naoko Wakasugi, JAL Furusato Ambassadors for the Chubu region, who are involved in planning JAL Furusato Project products in Mie Prefecture.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
Mie Prefecture is home to the Ise Jingu Shrine, which has a 2,000-year history and has been known since the Edo period (1603-1868) as the site of the Ise pilgrimage. Surrounded by the rich nature of the sea and mountains, the prefecture is full of attractions. Matsusaka City, famous worldwide for its wagyu beef, and Kenshima Island in Shima City, where the Ise-Shima Summit was held, attract people not only from Japan but also from all over the world.
JAL hometown ambassadors in the Chubu region are engaged in various activities together with local residents in order to make more people aware of the charms of Mie Prefecture.
–How are you involved in this effort?
In order to introduce the delicious taste of Mie Prefecture’s fruits to a wider audience, we worked on the development of a new product, “JAPAN Apple Lemonade,” together with Flonal, a company in Ise City famous for its health-friendly cardamom cola. This product uses lemons from Minami Ise Town, which are characterized by their refreshing acidity, and apples from Nagano Prefecture, which are sweeter and contain more juice. We hope you enjoy the mellow fruit flavor!
Meiwa Town, located next to Ise City, is famous as the site of the “Saiku” shrine where people serving the gods resided, but it is also home to specialty products that were very popular in the Edo period. The town is also famous for two traditional handicrafts: gikakushi, a traditional Japanese paper with colors and wrinkles to give it a texture similar to leather, and mi-itomori, also known as Matsusaka cotton, which is dyed with indigo, a natural dye.
In order to let more people know how wonderful this historical specialty is, JAL Furusato Ambassadors worked together with the Migakawakami no Kai and Goshi Orimono Co., Ltd. on color selection and combination to create a limited set only for JAL Furusato tax payment! The set will be available this winter.
We also give them a tour of the Goshi Ori factory and a hands-on experience of making pseudo-leather paper, which we transmit on “On Trip JAL” to help convey the charm of the area to as many people as possible.
Have you heard about VISON, a new tourist attraction in Mie Prefecture?
JAL, VISON, and six surrounding towns (Taki, Odai, Meiwa, Tokai, Daiki, and Kihoku) have entered into a partnership agreement and are working together to revitalize the region. Starting in mid-December, a marché is planned at VISON to further promote the charms of the six towns.
–What is your message to travelers?
Mie Prefecture is currently running the “Otoku ni Mie Tabi Campaign!”, which allows you to save on travel by using the JAL Hometown Support Discount. is now underway in Mie Prefecture. In addition, JAL Wellness & Travel, where you can save miles by walking, has set up check-in spots at 30 attractive locations in Mie Prefecture, including Ise Jingu Shrine and VISON, where you can earn 30 miles for each spot you visit. Why not take this opportunity to enjoy Mie Travel with great savings and good health?
© Source travel watch
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