Press Release
Japan Airlines and International Paper Plane Association Hold JAL Origami Plane Competitions
- JAL Origami Plane World Competition to be held in 2020 besides National Competition and Asian Competition
International Paper Plane Association (hereinafter “the Association”) and Japan Airlines (hereinafter “JAL”) announced today that they will hold an annual JAL Origami Plane National Competition for children who have passed regional preliminary matches held in every region of Japan, starting fiscal year 2017.
The aim of these competitions is to stimulate dreams of the sky and friendship through Origami Plane activities, and increase opportunities to promote communications and culture exchanges. Furthermore, the Association and JAL will hold the JAL Origami Plane Asian Competition in November 2017, and the first-ever JAL Origami Plane World Competition in 2020.
JAL announced its Soraiku® Declaration of bringing up the future generation in November 2016 and launched new initiatives to let children feel the future more closely. The JAL Origami Plane Class, which marks its 10-year anniversary in 2017, is one of JAL Soraiku initiatives. Around 700 JAL Group employees are Association-certified instructors, who have been supporting JAL Origami Plane Classes held at various events and venues.
Takuo Toda, Chairman of International Paper Plane Association, said: “We are honored to work with Japan Airlines for Origami Plane Competitions. It is the first time that JAL’s name is placed in the titles of those competitions. Through further cooperation with JAL, we believe that the Origami Plane activities will become more and more popular.”
Yoshiharu Ueki, President of JAL, said: “The JAL Group is pleased to support the Origami Plane Competitions. Children are able to know more about the beautiful sky and the future by joining Origami Plane activities. JAL and International Paper Plane Association will be striving to expand communications among children in and out of Japan.”
The Association and JAL will continue to embrace new challenges to nurture the future generation through Origami Plane initiatives and expand international exchanges to connect Japan with the rest of the world.
Activities in FY2017
Overview of Asian Competition
Schedule: November 2017
Location: Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture
Content of Competition：Compete Origami Plane skills in an airborne time competition
Categories: Elementary school children; junior high school students and above (two categories)
Participants: Those who pass national/regional preliminary matches held in Thailand, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam and Korea
Overview of National Competition
Schedule: March 2018
Location: Tokyo
Content of Competition: Compete Origami Plane skills in an airborne time competition
Categories: Elementary school children; junior high school students and above (two categories)
Participants: Those who pass preliminary matches held in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chubu, Kansai, Central Japan, Shikoku, Kyushu, and Okinawa regions
The JAL Origami Plane World Competition deciding the world’s number one for Origami Plane is planned to be held in Tokyo in 2020. Detailed information will be announced as soon as available.
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About International Paper Plane Association
Flying! Small paper with big dream – International Paper Plane Association was established in 1995.The Association is promoting activities of Origami Plane featured Japan’s traditional culture to children and adults worldwide. For exchange of manufacturing and Japanese culture, the association aims to healthily nurture children around the world, and contributes to communication between generations and the world peace. The Association is making efforts to develop promotion programs, and carry out training and education for Association-certified instructors.
About Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines (JAL) was founded in 1951 and became the first international airline in Japan. A member of the oneworld® alliance, the airline now reaches more than 331 airports in 53 countries and regions together with its codeshare partners with a modern fleet of more than 220 aircraft. JAL Mileage Bank (JMB), the airline's loyalty program, has reached over 31 million members worldwide. Named the Best Asia-Pacific Major Airline for On-time Performance in 2016 by FlightStats, JAL is committed to providing customers with the highest levels of flight safety and supreme quality in every aspect of its service, and aims to become the most preferred airline in the world.
For more information, please visit www.jal.com/en/outline/
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