Source: Jal.com
British Airways proudly serves up an ‘English breakfast’ on early morning flights, and All Nippon Airways offers Japanese-style TOTO ‘washlet’ bidets on board. And now another airline is looking to bring some traditional ‘home comforts’ to the skies.
Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced that electronic manga (Japanese comics) will be the new in-flight entertainment when its first 787 Dreamliner flies into service next year.
From March, manga fans will be able to choose from up to 30 different titles on seatback video screens on board JAL’s International Dreamliner flights.
The new service comes off the back of a collaboration with Japanese publisher Shogakukan Inc and eBook Initiative Japan Co.
JAL President Masaru Onishi told a press conference that its all-new 787s – the first of which is expected to arrive in February – will fly between Tokyo Narita airport and New Delhi and Moscow, and from the capital’s Haneda airport to Beijing.
The e-comics will initially be available only in Japanese, JAL said. But the airline plans to add English versions on board in the future.
Manga’s popularity has spread globally and is a big part of Japan’s tourism appeal, with tourists flocking to Japan’s manga stores to catch the latest releases and a glimpse of cosplayers (costume players).
