With bases across the country, JAL has been continuously implementing initiatives to revitalize local communities (currently known as the “JAL Hometown Project”), In August 2020, the company launched the “JAL Hometown Ambassadors” program, in which flight attendants selected through an internal application process relocate to local communities to promote initiatives in their respective regions. Additionally, in December of the same year, the company appointed the “JAL Hometown Support Team,” whose members engage in regional revitalization efforts while continuing their flight duties. The aim is to utilize the expertise cabin crew members have cultivated in their roles to develop products and address regional challenges in their hometowns or areas with which they have ties.
We spoke with Ruriko Yoshifuku, a JAL Hometown Ambassador who is in charge of the Amami Islands and is involved in animal welfare.
――Please tell us about your efforts.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) has donated a portion of the proceeds from sales of its in-flight merchandise, the “Amami Wildlife Fun Charms,” to the Amami Black Rabbit Museum Quru Guru in Yamato Village.
The “Amami Wildlife Charms” are charms made from Oshima Tsumugi silk, featuring motifs of Amami’s rare wildlife, such as the Amami black rabbit and the blue-eared jay.
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the inscription of Amami-Ōshima, Tokunoshima, northern Okinawa Island, and Iriomote Island as a World Natural Heritage Site.
Driven by our desire to “not only showcase the region’s charm but also contribute to nature conservation,” we have decided to donate a portion of our sales to support animal protection initiatives in Amami.
――How are you involved in this initiative?
This project was planned and developed by leveraging the expertise of JAL Hometown Ambassadors, who are deeply rooted in their local communities.
With the goal of balancing nature conservation with promoting the region’s appeal, we have been working in collaboration with Mr. Kawabata of Tsumugi Leather Kasuri, carefully considering how to give form to the charm and sentiments of Amami that we experience firsthand.
We have also been working on this project with the hope that our products will spark an interest in Amami’s rare animals and provide an opportunity for people to learn about the various challenges involved in protecting these creatures.
――Please tell us about the Amami Black Rabbit Museum Quru Guru.
The Amami Black Rabbit Museum Quru Guru is a conservation and research facility for the Amami black rabbit located in Yamato Village on Amami Ōshima.
In addition to providing treatment and rehabilitation for Amami black rabbits injured in traffic accidents and other incidents with the goal of returning them to the wild, the organization is also engaged in research on the ecology of black rabbits and environmental education.
Through interactive exhibits, visitors can learn about the ecology of the Amami black rabbit and the coexistence of nature and humans; it is a facility that offers fun for everyone, from adults to children.
© Source travel watch