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. Yoshiko Hanashima, a JAL Furusato Ambassador who is involved in the commercialization of fragrance mist in Oita.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
Hello, I am Hanashima, JAL Furusato Ambassador for Oita Prefecture. I am spending my third year in Oita Prefecture, which is rich in nature with hot springs, vast mountains and beautiful beaches.
In collaboration with Hisatsune Sanrin, a forestry company in Nakatsu City, we have commercialized a “fragrance mist” that utilizes materials from forest plants such as cypress and black maple.
We have been participating with Hisatsune Sanrin in various initiatives to bring forests closer to people, such as forest walks and monitoring tours to experience aroma mist making.
The concept of the company’s own brand “June 8” is “living with forest in mind,” and the company is working on an aroma business that utilizes forest materials with the hope that people living in urban areas where forests do not exist nearby will feel closer to them.
The primary industry is facing challenges such as depopulation and a lack of skilled workers, and the company is taking on the challenge of developing a new form of forestry in the hope that it will spark interest in the industry. We sympathize with such efforts and started this project in the hope of bringing the scent of forests to many people.
–How are you involved in this effort?
To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Oita-Itami route on September 4, J-AIR flight attendants and JAL hometown ambassadors collaborated to create an original fragrance mist, which has been available on J-AIR flights since November 1. We have adjusted the fragrance to make it pleasant to use while traveling on business or on trips and in a variety of other situations.
It has a refreshing yet somehow calming aroma derived from nature, distilled from the branches and leaves of black locust, lemongrass, and satoyama kabosu, and is suitable for all ages and all occasions.
I actually participated in assisting the harvesting process and scent selection of satoyama kabosu in Yabakei-cho.
During the harvesting process, we pick all of the large shapes, small ones, and even those with a few blemishes.
Harvesting the kabosu plants required a lot of high ground and hard work, but the fresh aroma of kabosu wafting through the air soothed the participants and they enjoyed the work.
After harvesting, the kabosu is peeled and distilled. Each step of the process is carefully carried out.
The extracted essential oil and aromatic distillate are clean and soothing.
Lemongrass is from Sora, a farm that produces pesticide-free vegetables in Yabakei-cho.
We were allowed to enter a lemon grass field before harvest, and there was a very sweet aroma wafting from the field as well.
The finished product has a sweet aroma of lemongrass with just a hint of fresh aroma of kabosu and kuromoji.
For details, please visit the J-AIR website (in-flight sales items).
–What are your future plans and prospects?
I have participated in several forest walks and learned about the birth of the forest and the growth of plants. It is invigorating to actually see how plants grow strong in any environment.
We would like to continue our efforts with Hisatsune Sanrin to make people feel closer to forests and nature in their daily lives, and to encourage them to actually visit the forests.
–What is your message to travelers?
You can also participate in an original aroma-making experience at Hisatsune Sanrin’s brand “June 8th” at the store.
Hinoki and cedar trees, which are representative of forests, have different scents depending on their wood parts and branches and leaves. In the aroma-making experience, you can create your own original fragrance by combining your favorite scents from many fragrant essential oils such as summer tangerine, rose geranium, lemongrass, and chrome joe.
Why not find your own original fragrance?
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