How did they capture that stunning view? Behind the scenes of the production of the JAL calendar that captivates fans every year

There are many ways to make you feel like you're traveling at home, but one of the best ways is to create a calendar that lets you enjoy a different view each month. At JAL, we create a variety of calendars every year. From traditional to new approaches, we are expanding our lineup based on customer requests.

"ART Calendar" has a proud history of about 70 years and has continued to convey traditional Japanese beauty to the world.

Daido: "The history of JAL's calendars began with this 'ART'. It was originally a promotional item created to commemorate the first flight to San Francisco in 1954. It was meant to introduce the charm and culture of Japan at a time when foreigners were still unfamiliar with Japan itself."

These are the words of Daido Noriko, JAL Brand Communications, who is in charge of production. The first calendar was only aimed at overseas customers. The cover of the new calendar, which boasts a 70-year history, is the National Treasure "Fan-shaped Lotus Sutra Booklet" (Utamakura Kaji no Hazu). Starting with the elegant kimono "Kosode, Red Crepe with Treasure Ship Pattern," January's collection includes lacquerware and ceramics that are filled with people's wishes. The final piece is Maruyama Okyo's sliding door painting "Peacock on Pine Tree." It is filled with Japanese beauty in every direction.

Daido: "With the aim of introducing a wide range of Japanese culture without being confined to one genre, we have incorporated a variety of art forms, including paintings, sculptures, and dyed and woven textiles. The theme for this issue is 'Forms of Prayer.' We approached Mari Hashimoto, an editor with a deep knowledge of art, and she was in charge of everything from planning to setting the theme and selecting the artworks to feature."

I visit art museums all over the country and take pictures of everything I can.

Daido: "For the first time, JAL has set a major theme. We set themes for a five-year plan, and this is the first year. The theme was decided before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it happened to be a fitting theme, 'Forms of Prayer.' Because art is something that is imbued with prayer, we thought this was an extremely important theme."

A miraculous shot. "A WORLD OF BEAUTY 2021" will spend the year with JAL's original beautiful photos.

Among them, "A WORLD OF BEAUTY 2021" has undergone a major renewal this time. It is filled with photos that allow you to enjoy magnificent views from all over the world and get you excited about traveling, but Miho Ikeda, who was in charge of the first photo of a beach, looks back on it as "a miracle photo."

Ikeda: "By chance, a bird flew in during filming and spread its wings. The beach is called Playa Escondida in Mexico. We had the production company take us there, but to get there, you have to swim about 100m from the boat. I heard from the director that the cameraman carrying the equipment and the ballet dancer who served as our model all swam through the rough waves for 30 minutes. But they are professionals, and apparently they were able to perform a powerful dance just 30 minutes after they swam to the shore."

This photo was taken around winter last year. Taking advantage of the angle of the sun, the shadows of the clouds, and other factors, it takes not only effort but also luck to capture a beautiful shot. The photography tour, which required taking 12 photos of this quality all around the world and in Japan, was extremely tough.

Ikeda: "We renewed the theme this year, adding the theme of 'Once in a Lifetime.' Until now, we've used cityscapes and models that make you want to travel, but we've changed the idea to seek out spectacular views and capture moments in a changing era, while still inviting you to travel. I also accompanied the photographer to Olympic National Park in Washington State, and the process was to search for the best shooting spots and compositions on foot, and then find the best timing to take the photo."

In pursuit of the ultimate beautiful shot, we shot on location in breathtaking locations around the world and Japan.

In addition, we walked 22km through the jungle in the pouring rain to the Hang En Cave in Vietnam, camping and taking photos. For the desert photos, we traveled from Dubai to Abu Dhabi on uncharted roads in search of the best location.

Ikeda: "The photographer is Kyo Taniguchi, who is very particular about his work. As a bonus for purchasers, you can watch a 360-degree video taken on-site, so I hope you will enjoy it."

The original plan was to include a balanced selection of scenic spots from around the world, including Japan, but as the spread of COVID-19 made it difficult to travel overseas, the team changed their approach and decided to include plenty of lesser known scenic spots in Japan.

Ikeda: "I'm really satisfied with the end result. The local atmosphere was conveyed, and the models' lively movements and expressions were brought out. I think it's a result that is in line with the theme of 'encounters with spectacular views'. I can't predict what the future holds, but I'll keep doing my best next year."

"JAL PILOT -I have Control-" allows you to enjoy a view of the cockpit that is not normally available to the public.

Well, there are other calendars unique to JAL. Four of them, "JAL PILOT -I have Control-", "JAL SEASONS", "JAL NIGHT FLIGHT" and "JAL Calendar" are relatively new, and the 2021 edition will be their third year. "JAL PILOT", which draws attention with a female pilot on the cover, is a new attempt, says Miyawaki Zen of the department.

Miyawaki: "There are few female flight crew members, so it has been difficult to cast her in the film until now, but we are pleased to have her appear in the film. She flies a Boeing 737." "The subtitle 'I have Control' was decided after discussing and soliciting words from active pilots. It is a symbolic phrase that pilots actually use when they take the controls."

Special attention has been paid to the printing, with two inside pages using silver foil stamping to express the texture of machinery, such as the aircraft and cockpit instruments.

Miyawaki: "I'm sure airplane enthusiasts will be pleased. We have a wide range of aircraft listed, including the Airbus A350, which entered service in 2019, the new ATR42, and the Boeing 737."

Also included in last year's calendar is an assembly-type VR kit. By placing your smartphone inside, you can get a 360-degree virtual view of the cockpit.

Ikeda: "By the way, you can also see Airbus' latest aircraft, the A350, on 'JAL FLEET,' so please enjoy it."

"JAL SEASONS" is filled with unprecedented images of "traveling airplanes"

"JAL SEASONS" also takes a new approach to airplane photography and is a must-see calendar for anyone who loves airplanes.

Miyawaki: "As the name suggests, the photos were taken over a period of one year, closely tracking the different seasons. This is a slightly different approach to the usual 'JAL FLEET' photos that JAL has been releasing, which are just beautiful photos of the planes themselves."

"JAL SEASONS" is a calendar with the concept of expressing the collaboration between landscapes and airplanes. Some of the photos are not used in the past, such as the logo with snowflakes on it, but we actively incorporated photos that were beautiful and impactful as a single picture of the landscape and airplanes.

Miyawaki: "I'm not just limited to taking beautiful and accurate photos of aircraft, but I also pursue seasonal photography with airplanes as the motif."

Enjoy the lively appearance and expressions of the airplanes, including some with a halo-like glow and a 787 superimposed on the full moon.

Sunsets and late nights. Enjoy the beautiful silhouette of the giants at "NIGHT FLIGHT"

Well, if you enjoy airplane scenes, "NIGHT FLIGHT" might be the one for you.

Miyawaki: "You can see airplanes focusing on sunset and night scenes. Charlie Furusho, who took the photos, is a big name in the aviation photography industry and is known to everyone. These are photos that you can't take unless you understand how airplanes move."

You can enjoy seeing planes with their wings spread in the fantastic night lights, or planes shining in the sunset, which you don't usually get to see.

Ikeda: "I heard that it was difficult to photograph the sunset. Apparently the color only appears for a split second."

Miyawaki: "We want to show the various aspects of airplanes, so we've prepared calendars with a variety of themes."

You'll find yourself saying "I see!" The cute and educational "Naruhodo Calendar"

The "Naruhodo Calendar" was created by an up-and-coming illustrator named Doisena, and is made up of cute illustrations that can be enjoyed by a wide range of people.

"Each illustration has a little something about the plane. It's filled with trivia about the specifications and operation of the plane, and there is an explanatory text on the back."

It would be a waste to throw them away after one month, so you can cut them out and use them as postcards. This may also be a perfect calendar for children.

JAL offers a wide range of eight different calendars.

A total of eight calendars, including "JAL CABIN ATTENDANT," a collection of photos of flight attendants, are being produced by a team of five to six people. Each calendar took a year to create, and the people in charge seem especially impressed.

Ikeda: "Some of the works were made after I had personally visited the filming locations, so it's great to see the finished product. I have a strong emotional attachment to them. I'm very familiar with the local atmosphere, and I've been able to express that very well, so I hope many people will see it."

The staff in charge want to "make customers feel like they're traveling" and "help them appreciate the appeal of flying."

Miyawaki: "All of the calendars have the theme of 'An invitation to travel.' I would be happy if this could help many people learn more about airplanes, as well as countries, regions, and travel destinations they have never been to, and spark their interest."

We have a wide range of calendars for next year, including those that will inspire your travelling spirit, those that will let you enjoy the sight of airplanes, and those that will deepen your knowledge of the sky. Although calendars are used to check the dates, we are confident that they are all designed to make you lose track of time and have fun. Why not display one in your home?

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