Through the Eyes of the former Consul General Yamada (June, 2017 - July, 2020)

JAL and Delta Airlines Begin Offering More Connections between Seattle and Japan

 
It has been more than 3 months since my last entry. In January I fell ill with pneumonia and had to rest for a while. Then, after being hit with the biggest snow storm in Seattle in 70 years, February seemed to fly by while we were busy shoveling snow. I’d like to reinstate my column with this exciting news: starting this spring the number of direct flights from Seattle to Japan will double!
  On March 14, a big ceremony was held to celebrate the start of Japan Airlines’ (JAL) direct service from Seattle to Narita. JAL used to fly direct between Narita and Seattle three decades ago but, after Japan’s economic bubble burst, they stopped offering that service in 1992 due to decreased demand. However, within the past 10 years the greater Seattle area has seen the most rapid economic growth among any metropolitan region in the US. In the past five years, Washington State’s economy has had record growth, surpassing the national average by 2%. The population of Seattle has increased from 600,000 people in 2009, to 720,000 people last year, with the greater Seattle area population rising to over 3.5 million. Due to the presence of major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, the Seattle area has generated many startups in artificial intelligence, life sciences and other areas. 
Many of the high tech researchers and engineers that work at these companies have an interest in Japanese culture, and choose Japan as a sightseeing destination. Additionally, Seattle is widely known among Japanese citizens as the place where Ichiro played for the Mariners for many years. Last year, Seattle ranked fifth among US cities with the most travelers going to and from Japan. It is due to this increase in demand that JAL decided to once again offer Seattle-Narita flights for the first time in 27 years. On March 31, at the SeaTac Airport, festivities were held for the arrival and departure of the first JAL flights. I was invited to and attended the happy event! 
 
Before the March event, on February 28 Delta Airlines also held a ceremony at the Official Residence to celebrate the inauguration of their direct service from SeaTac to Kansai Airport in Osaka. Delta already offers direct flights to Narita. Their new service to Kansai Airport carries a lot of importance. Washington has a sister-state relationship with Hyogo Prefecture, and Seattle and Kobe are also sister cities. In total, cities in Washington and Hyogo have forged 13 sister city relationships, and during the summer in particular there are many sightseeing trips, as well as homestays taking place during cultural exchange trips in both places. If you are planning to focus your visit around popular tourist sites like Kyoto and Hiroshima, landing in Osaka is more efficient and convenient. Additionally, the Kansai region has long been a thriving business hub, and it continues to generate many outstanding enterprises. At the Delta Airlines event, jazz pianist Senri Oe captivated the attendees with both cheerful and contemplative instrumental pieces. The event showed a strong spirit of service, with renowned sushi chef Shiro Kashiba preparing freshly made sushi from his counter, and Japanese pilots and flight attendants posing with guests for commemorative photos.
  The number of foreign visitors to Japan surpassed 10 million in 2013, 20 million in 2016, and 30 million in 2018. The Japanese government has set a goal of welcoming over 40 million tourists in 2020 with the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. From now on, the chances of encountering a Seattleite at a mountain hot spring in Japan will likely increase. If someone says, “I came from Washington,” pay close attention to whether it is Washington State or Washington D.C. Though the capital is more well-known, which Washington do you think is the more charming? To me the answer is clear. To those who do not know the answer, I encourage you to come and experience the summertime in Seattle.