Japan Air Lines, 1974

Japan Air Lines ad, 1974, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Scanned from Taschen's "All-American Ads of the 70s". Click image for 666 x 876 size.

"How to Fly, Japanese Style.

Slip into a hoppi coat. Part robe, part sports coat. The Japanese dress up even to relax.

Sake, champagne, wine. And a platter of cheese to snack from in between.

JAL's flight kit includes slippers, fan, city guide, toothbrush, travel wallet - and eyeshades!

Hot oshibori towels. Or, how to freshen up without getting up.

Kobe. The world's most tender beef.

Tsukidashi. The delicious word for Japanese hors d'oeuvres.

Beluga caviar. Lobster plate. When it's cocktail time on JAL, we treat you like a king. Cuisine à la Japanese. A perfect introduction to Japan.

Artichoke hearts. Carrots aglow in butter. And the steak is cooked to order.

This photo features First Class service items.


We once asked some of our flight guests what they liked most about flying with us.

Surprisingly, it wasn't any of the comforts or delicacies above.

In fact, it wasn't what we did so much as how we did it.

They spoke of being pampered. Of the way our hostesses in kimono smile.

Small things, of course. But in world that worships the mammoth, the small has a way of making up in gleam what it lacks in size.

At JAL, we glory in the small things of life. From our first hello to our last sayonara, we take the small attentions and courtesies so much for granted, they are our way of life.

It's a way of life practiced by us and our ancestors of generations beyond number.

In that sense, you could say we've been practicing how to fly for a thousand years and more."