GO GO MATSUI CAMPAIGN IN THE SKIES OF JAPAN THIS SUMMER JAL GROUP AND NEW YORK YANKEES HIDEKI MATSUI |
TOKYO JUNE 23, 2003: The Japan Airlines Group is enlisting the aid of their U.S. Major League baseball image character – New York Yankees' power hitter Hideki Matsui – in a summer campaign to attract Japanese domestic air travelers that features two aircraft decorated with the famous slugger's portrait. Japan Airlines and Japan Air Systems are merging and one of the objectives – or dreams – of the new airline group is to become one of the world's leading air transport groups. "Together with Matsui-san," say the two carriers, "we want to create a new dream this summer, hence the summer campaign – the JAL and JAS GO-GO MATSUI CAMPAIGN." The Japanese love puns and GO GO has several meanings here. For example, "go" in Japanese means number 5, and Matsui's Yankee shirt bears the number 55, which can be read as GO GO. ![]() Passengers on all flights by the eight JAL Group domestic* carriers during the campaign period are eligible for a draw either for tickets for a special two-hour "GO-GO Matsui Dream Flight" or for 55,000 mobile telephone straps decorated with a miniature Matsui figure. Additionally, the JAL Group is running a competition for junior school children for Dream Flight tickets. Entrants have to submit a pictorial diary with the theme "My Dream Trip." There are also consolation prizes of 55,000 yen gift coupons for 55 people who fail to win a phone strap or a pair of tickets for the "GO GO Matsui Dream Flight." The "JAL and JAS GO-GO MATSUI CAMPAIGN" will run from July 18 through September 30. (*JAL, JAS, Japan TransoceanAir (JTA), JAL Express, J-Air, Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), Japan Air Commuter (JAC) and Hokkaido Air Commuter (HAC).) |