Sunday

Tsurumaru’s last flight

Yesterday marked a sad milestone in JAL’s history: the last flight of a plane with the crane logo (Tsurumaru) on it. I don’t know which marketing “consultant” told them to do so, but I am sure the logo will return in some years, admitting the mistake. 鶴さんさよなら。また会う日まで。

Called Tsurumaru, the crane logo was created in 1959.

Before that, the logo consisted of the letters JAL stretched out to form wings. But when the airline moved from prop planes to jets, company officials decided a change was in order.

At first they wanted a logo with a modern design that expressed a sense of speed. However, in the end, a decision was reached to emphasize Japanese qualities.

The crane logo first appeared on a JAL jet in 1960. The first jet, dubbed Fuji, was a DC-8. On that aircraft, the crane symbol was placed on the fuselage slightly behind the cockpit. On the tail was a copy of the Japanese flag.

Many retired JAL employees are sorry to see the symbol go.

Shigeru Yoshida joined JAL when the company was established in 1951. At first, Yoshida, now 82, was posted at Haneda Airport cleaning aircraft and handling luggage.

“I felt a real sense of purpose working to put a plane in the sky at a time when the nation was still reeling from defeat in World War II,” Yoshida said. “I thought the crane logo was a symbol not only for JAL, but for a Japan that was taking off.”