Japan Airlines Appoints First Female President, Mitsuko Tottori

Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced the appointment of Mitsuko Tottori, 59, to president, making her the first female to occupy this post in the company's history. Mitsuko, who is now the representative director and senior managing executive officer, will formally take up her new role on April 1, 2024.

Mitsuko’s rise to the presidency is distinguished not just by her gender, but also by her unusual background as the first JAL president with a flight attendant experience. She joined the airline in 1985 and has substantial industry experience, including a crucial role during the hard days of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Mitsuko, as senior vice president for cabin attendants, supported the secondment of JAL cabin attendants to municipalities and other enterprises in 2020, proving her leadership at the industry's turbulent time.

Yuji Akasaka, the current president, will take on the post of chairman with representative responsibility after April 1. Mitsuko’s appointment coincides with Japan's recent attempts to promote female diversity in business leadership.

In 2023, the Japanese government announced a women's empowerment program that aims to have more than 30% female board members in businesses listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's top-tier Prime Market by 2030. This action is part of a larger effort to close the gender gap and advance women into top roles in Japanese firms.