JAL, which has bases throughout the country, has been continuously implementing initiatives to revitalize local communities (currently known as the “JAL Hometown Project”), and In August 2020, the company launched the “JAL Hometown Ambassadors” program, in which flight attendants selected through an internal application process relocated to local communities to promote initiatives in their respective regions. In December of the same year, it also appointed the “JAL Hometown Support Team,” whose members engage in regional revitalization efforts while continuing their flight duties. The goal 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 Mami Yamamoto, a JAL Hometown Ambassador based in Kagoshima who is involved in promoting the charms of the Osumi Peninsula.
――Please tell us about your initiatives.
In this post, we’d like to introduce a tour organized by the Osumi Tourism Future Conference to showcase the charms of the Osumi Peninsula in Kagoshima Prefecture.
Kagoshima Prefecture is one of Japan’s leading producers of authentic shochu. For example, the Osumi region is home to numerous distilleries with distinctive characters, including Moriizō Shuzō; however, this tour takes you to five distilleries—“Daikai Shuzō,” “Kojika Shuzō,” “Kamikawa Shuzō,” “Tensei Shuzo,” and “Wakashio Shuzo,” all located in the southeastern part of the Osumi Peninsula. It’s a special two-day experience where you can enjoy harvesting the sweet potatoes used as raw material, participating in the brewing process, and interacting with the brewery staff.
*Moriizō Shuzo was also featured in the July issue of JAL’s in-flight magazine, “SKY WARD.”
――How are you involved in this initiative?
I’ve lived in Kagoshima for a long time, but before I took up my post as ambassador, the Osumi Peninsula felt far away, and I rarely had the chance to visit. Since taking up my post, however, I’ve visited many times and have come to appreciate its profound charm. In particular, I’ve become completely captivated by the exquisite local cuisine, such as eel, kampachi, yellowtail, and black pork.
I recently had the opportunity to experience part of the tour in advance and truly felt the richness of the Osumi region’s natural environment and the warmth of its people. I’m actively sharing information to spread the word about the Osumi Peninsula’s charms and help revitalize the region.
Please note that the starting points for this tour are Kagoshima Chuo Station and Kagoshima Airport. If you are traveling by air, you can easily join and depart the tour via JAL flights. The following flights are well-suited to the tour itinerary:
© Source travel watch