JAL, which has bases throughout Japan, has been continuously implementing regional revitalization initiatives (currently the “JAL Furusato Project”), and in August 2020 launched the “JAL Furusato Ambassadors,” cabin crew members selected through an in-house recruitment process who move to the area to promote initiatives in their respective regions. In December of the same year, JAL appointed “JAL Hometown Cheering Troops” who are involved in regional revitalization while serving on board. 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 spoke with Ms. Yoshimi Ogawa, a JAL Furusato Ambassador who is involved in the commercialization of lemon saffron rice in Niigata.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
Takano Co., Ltd. manufactures and sells aseptic packaged rice, its main product, throughout Japan under the slogan, “Taking advantage of Niigata Prefecture’s geographical location, we will deliver the richness of food by making products with the taste of Echigo.
We at the Japan Airlines Niigata Branch also wanted to make an effort to expand the consumption of Niigata rice and promote local products to energize Niigata, and we were approached to commercialize the “Lemon Saffron Rice” project.
–How are you involved in this effort?
Rice has supported people’s health as a staple food since ancient times, but nowadays rice consumption is decreasing due to the diversification and simplification of food.
Against this backdrop, we aimed to develop Lemon Saffron Rice by utilizing our knowledge of food culture cultivated as flight attendants, with the aim of making Niigata rice easily available while incorporating elements of foreign food culture.
The lemons are from Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. With the desire to support Sado lemons, from the perspective of the SDGs, we have selected lemons that have no quality problems but are not exhibited outside of the standard.
A variety of fruits are grown on Sado Island, including persimmons, pears (Le Lectier), apples, tangerines, figs, and kiwis.
Lemons are usually considered to grow in warm regions, but farmers on Sado Island have taken up the challenge of growing lemons in the snow country. This is because they want more people to know about Sado as a fruit island through lemon cultivation.
Lemon saffron rice is recommended served with curry.
The rice was made with Takano Co., Ltd. under the theme of “rice that goes well with curry,” through a series of tastings and review meetings, adjusting the type of rice and the degree of cooking.
It has a hint of fresh lemon and goes well with a variety of curries, including butter chicken curry, seafood curry, and soup curry.
The bright yellow color of saffron also adds color to meals, making it a particularly good choice during this season when people’s appetites are waning.
© Source travel watch
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