NEWS from World Wings International, Inc.
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World Wings International, Inc. The Philanthropic Organization of Former Flight Attendants of Pan American World Airways.
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Contact: Anne Sweeney
Anne Sweeney Public Relations
732-329-6629/aspubrel@aol.com
JAPANESE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WILL HOST
THEIR PAN AM FAMILY AT TOKYO CONVENTION
Pioneering Journalist, Kaoru Kanetaka, To Recall
Airline's Impact on Japanese Travel
At First Asian Convention of World Wings International Inc.
The Philanthropic Organization of Former Pan Am Flight Attendants
TOKYO, October 15 -They spanned the world in Pan Am jets of blue and white, bringing a special grace and style to "The World's Most Experienced Airline." Chosen for their education, charm, appearance and linguistic skills, Pan Am's first Japanese stewardesses were highly effective ambassadors for Pan Am and for their country. Today, they are members of World Wings International's Tokyo chapter and from October 21-24 will welcome Pan Amers from around the globe at the organization's annual convention, the first to be held in Asia.
 
Japanese stewardesses were highly effective ambassadors for
Pan Am and for their country.
The four-day event will reunite flight attendants, pilots and ground staff. Activities will be held at the Grand Prince Hotel New Tanakawa in Shinagawa, with activities including a cocktail party, gala dinner, sightseeing and a business meeting to review World Wings International's activities that include major fundraising efforts for CARE and for over 40 local charities worldwide.
Keynote speaker at the event will be award-winning journalist and broadcaster, Kaoru Kanetaka, who brought the world to thousands of Japanese listeners with her TV program, The World Around Us. When the program launched in 1959, Japanese had not traveled widely and Ms. Kanetaka's broadcasts greatly encouraged global travel. Pan Am not only sponsored her program but flew Ms.Kanetaka to over 150 worldwide destinations.
First Japanese Nationals Hired as Stewardesses in 1966
Members of the Tokyo Chapter of World Wings International, are among the Japanese nationals who became a gracious presence on Pan Am's global flights. Chosen for their education, charm, appearance and linguistic skills, Pan Am's first Japanese stewardesses were highly effective ambassadors for Pan Am and for their country. Front row from left to right: Yoko Ishikawa, Kazue Honda, Kazue Kurosawa, Miyako Kuroda, Yoshiko Maeda, Junko Nohara, Fumiyo Funabashi, Mayako Honda. Back row from left to right: Yukiko Kimura, Julia Yamamoto, Junko Takanoyama
From the inauguration of round the world service in 1947, until the United Airlines takeover of its Pacific routes in 1986, Pan American World Airways was a strong presence in Japan, influencing aviation, travel and the economy by opening up new opportunities for business and leisure travel.
In turn, the Japanese employees and passengers had far-reaching impact on Pan Am's service product, introducing such amenities as hot and cold towels, sake, Japanese language entertainment and, in 1966, the introduction of Japanese nationals as stewardesses on all of Pan Am's round the world flights. Prior to 1966, Japanese-American stewardesses, or "Nisei", were assigned to these flights. However, given the rapidly growing number of Japanese travelers, especially businessmen, Pan Am quickly recognized the need for flight attendants who spoke their language and understood their culture and service requirements. The selection process was intensive and the Japanese stewardesses became highly effective ambassadors for their country and for Pan Am. Based in Honolulu, they were a welcome and gracious presence on Pan Am's 'Round the World Flights, 1 and 2.
Members of the Tokyo Chapter of World Wings International, Inc. include a successful author, a globally known calligraphy teacher, a poet, an ambassador's wife with her own accomplishments, experts on graciously caring for the elderly, a doctor who earned her medical degree while raising three small children, businesswomen, busy grandmothers, and women still actively employed as flight attendants. Like all of World Wings' global chapters, the group support CARE's programs to aid women and children and a local charity, Ashinaga Ikkeika, a scholarship program.
"We are so proud of our Tokyo Chapter," says World Wings President, Norma Simon. "Their contributions to Pan Am and to our organization are outstanding and now, by hosting our first Asian convention, they are, once again, expressing the qualities of harmony, graciousness, hospitality and dedication that we have come to expect from these remarkable women."
2010 World Wings International Tokyo Convention
Welcoming our friends of Pan Am throughout the world
We accelerate its path as we have gathered at Yoko's,
A home of delicate beauty where the beautiful hydrangeas
Elaborately cared for by her are in full bloom-
Reminiscent of the memories of Pan Am with our love
And smiles enshrined in our hearts.
Kazue Honda
Guest Speaker Kaoru Kanetaka
Kaoru Kanetaka
Award-winning journalist, documentary film maker and world traveler, Kaoru Kanetaka brought the world to thousands of Japanese viewers with her program, The World Around Us. Pan Am was a proud sponsor of the TV broadcast which ran for 31 years.
Pan Am brought Ms. Kanetaka to 150 different countries and in turn, she brought her audience the world. The program started in 1959 at a time when Japanese people had not yet traveled widely and Ms. Kanetaka is credited with encouraging global travel for business and pleasure. The World Around Us ran until 1990, with Ms. Kanetaka serving as coordinator, producer, director and narrator.
The mileage she earned by producing the series was enough to travel around the world,181 times. Her documentaries won awards in Japan, Australia, India, West Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. She interviewed many prominent 20th century figures, including President John F. Kennedy, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, Dr. Albert Schweitzer, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, and Salvador Dali. She is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, International House of Japan and Japan Travel Writers Organization.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Anne Sweeney
Anne Sweeney Public Relations. 732-329-6629. aspubrel@aol.com
Anne Sweeney Public Relations is the 
PR counsel for World Wings International, Inc.
The agency specializes in marketing communications for the travel, hospitality, retail, restaurant and health care industries. Anne, who flew for Pan Am from 1964-1975 and also worked in Pan Am's Corporate Communications Department, is a member of World Wings and serves as its Communications Director.
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