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 interviewed Ms. Yukiko Sakai, a JAL Furusato Ambassador who is involved in the development of sweets using strawberries from Shingu Town in Fukuoka Prefecture.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
Shingu Town is located adjacent to the northeastern part of Fukuoka City and is said to be the first place in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is famous for its strawberries, where the cultivation of strawberries actually began! We aim to develop sweets using strawberries from Shingu Town that will be available to everyone. Eventually, we hope to be able to deliver them to people all over Japan as a gift in return for tax payment.
–How are you involved in this effort?
As a Furusato Ambassador, I am in charge of communicating the charms of the regions of Fukuoka and Saga Prefectures. For this project, I am planning new specialty products using ingredients from Shingu Town, consulting with businesses from scratch. I would like to make use of my knowledge as a flight attendant and my sweet tooth to create delicious sweets.
–What are your future plans and prospects?
We hope to deliver the completed confectionery to everyone in March 2024, and in the future, we hope it will become a representative product of Shingu Town as a return gift for hometown tax payments. In fact, Shingu Town is one of the most popular municipalities in Japan in terms of the amount of hometown tax donations! In addition to strawberries, products by local processors such as nuts and hamburgers are also attracting a great deal of attention. We will do our best to become a signature product that will not lose out to existing popular products!
–What is your message to travelers?
Shingu Town is only 20 minutes from Hakata Station on the JR Kagoshima Main Line, and the beaches overlooking the Genkai Sea are very popular! There are also many mountains, and “Olle” is increasingly attracting attention as a place to enjoy trekking in the great outdoors.
In terms of food, the town boasts seafood from the Genkai Sea, which is fed by the nutrient-rich Tsushima Current, as well as delicious fruits such as strawberries and mandarin oranges. We hope you will visit Shingu Town!
© Source travel watch