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. Naoko Wakasugi and Ms. Manami Tonegawa, JAL Furusato Ambassadors for the Chubu region, who are involved in planning JAL Furusato Project products.
–What can you tell us about your initiatives?
This is an initiative with meet tree in Nakatsugawa City, Gifu Prefecture. Nakatsugawa City is located at the southeastern tip of Gifu Prefecture, surrounded by the Kiso Mountains to the east and the Mikawa Plateau to the south, with the Kiso River flowing through the center of the city, and is rich in nature. Kiso cypress from the Tono region is one of Japan’s most famous timbers, and has been used in various wooden structures such as Ise Jingu Shrine, Horyuji Temple, and Nagoya Castle.
HINOKI will release two types of aroma mist using Japanese cypress, “HINOKI Aroma Mist – Leaf Scent and Tree Scent,” which was created in cooperation with meet tree, a long-established wood company in Nakatsugawa City that has been in business for 100 years, and the JAL hometown ambassadors for the Chubu region.
The branches and leaves from cutting cypress logs from the mountains, pruning, and pruning have been discarded until now.
These two products use essential oil of Japanese cypress. HINOKI Aroma Mist Leaves Scent” uses essential oil extracted from branches and leaves of Japanese cypress with a refreshing fragrance inspired by the morning when airplanes take off. HINOKI Aroma Mist Wood Scent, which uses essential oil extracted from cypress wood, has a woody, calming scent that evokes the image of the night after an airplane has landed.
–How are you involved in this effort?
JAL Furusato Ambassadors and JAL Chubu Branch employees helped in the development of the product by adjusting the fragrance, package design, and product name. For the fragrance adjustment, each sample product was tested, and opinions were offered on the image of the fragrance and the appropriate duration of the fragrance, depending on the different formulations.
© Source travel watch