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 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 spoke with Kyoko Watanabe, a JAL Furusato Ambassador who is involved in the Sendai Tanabata Festival in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
The Sendai Tanabata Festival has been a traditional event since the time of Lord Date Masamune, and is held every year from August 6 to August 8.
This year, JAL has decided to exhibit for the second time since 2019, based on our desire to help create the liveliness of the historic Sendai Tanabata Festival through the “Tanabata Decoration Bank” system.
Tanabata Decoration Bank: A system that allows businesses that are not members of the central shopping district where the Sendai Tanabata Festival is held to display their Tanabata decorations.
–How are you involved in this effort?
Three JAL Furusa Ambassadors, who have moved to Tohoku, led the design of JAL’s original Tanabata decorations.
The 700 origami cranes were made by all the staff at JAL’s branches, offices, and airports in the Tohoku and Niigata regions.
The Tanabata decorations, which were created with the wishes of JAL Group employees in mind, will be displayed in the Hapina Meikakecho shopping district.
–What are your future plans and prospects?
When I went to Maruichi Shoji, the company that made JAL’s Tanabata decorations, for an interview, I learned about the background of the Sendai Tanabata Festival, such as the fact that each of the seven decorations (tanzaku, paper robe, and balloon float) contains a wish, and that it takes several years of training to create the beautiful paper flowers for the Bonbori.
From next year onward, in addition to designing and making paper cranes, I would like to be involved in the process of making Tanabata decorations, and would like to convey the charm of the “festival” not only from the surface but also from the background.
–What is your message to travelers?
The Sendai Tanabata Festival will be held for three days, but you can still see the Tanabata decorations we designed at Sendai Airport after the festival is over: they will be displayed near the JAL counter on the second floor of the airport from August 11 to August 31.
In addition, Natori City, where the airport is located, and JAL signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement on July 31. In Natori City, you can enjoy plenty of seafood such as northern limit shirasu (baby sardines) and Yuriage red clams. In addition, there are many lively spots such as Yuriage Port Morning Market and Kawamachi Terrace Yuriage, so please stop by when you visit the airport.
© Source travel watch
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