JAL Crash Victims Mourned on 40th Anniversary of Accident in Japan; Advancing Age Prevents Some Relatives From Traveling to Site
In front of the 'Shokon no Hi' monument to the victims on Osutaka Ridge in the village of Ueno, Gunma Prefecture, mourners released balloons and blew soap bubbles in memory of the victims and sounded the 'Bell of Safety.'
Advancing age has prevented some bereaved family members from visiting the ridge for memorial services, and some have said this year's 40th anniversary will be their final climb.
'I might not come again,' said Yutaka Ochi, 66, from Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. He spoke softly at the grave marker for the victims, who include his sister Yoshiko, while pouring her favorite Hennessy brandy over the site. Yoshiko was 28 at the time of her death.Due to a knee injury, Ochi intends to make this year's climb his last.
The eldest of three siblings, Yoshiko dreamed of living overseas and studied English by listening to late-night radio programs. When she was a high school student, she received support from the Rotary Club to go to the United States.
She persuaded her parents, who opposed the idea, and spent a year at a high school in Massachusetts. After graduating from the University of Arizona, she worked for a fashion-related company in New York.
Ochi was proud of his older sister, who had paved her own way in life.
In the spring of 1985, Yoshiko returned to Japan when she got a new job at an apparel company. In July 1985, she attended Ochi's wedding and toured every table to greet guests.
'She's a show-off but cool. That's just like my sister,' he said proudly.
Yoshiko was on her way to the company's headquarters in Kobe, after finishing her work in Tokyo, when she was killed in the accident, one month after the wedding.
About two weeks later, part of a jaw was confirmed to be Yoshiko's. Ochi carried his sister — 'small enough to fit in the palm of my hand' — back home.
'She must have had dreams she wanted to pursue,' he said with deep regret.
Ochi climbed to the accident site for his father, who died in 2009 and had urged him, 'Go to Yoshiko's place.' However, his knees no longer behave the way he wants.
'Each of the 520 people had their own dreams. An accident like this must never happen again,' Ochi said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Mainichi
20 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Easy Japanese news in translation: Ceremony to dry kimono held at Fukuoka Prefecture shrine
An "oirokashi" ceremony, in which kimonos used in rituals are hung out to dry, was held at Hachimankohyo Shrine in the town of Yoshitomi, Fukuoka Prefecture, on August 6. The kimonos are small, measuring about 40 centimeters in length, and are worn by dolls representing the gods. Local people reportedly offered these kimonos to the gods, while praying for good health and good luck. The shrine building was decorated with kimonos in bright patterns of red, purple and more. Easy Japanese news is taken from the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun, a newspaper for children. This is perfect material for anyone studying Japanese who has learned hiragana and katakana. We encourage beginners to read the article in English followed by Japanese, or vice versa, to test their comprehension. A fresh set will be published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 4 p.m., Japan time. Click/tap here for past installments. Intermediate learners who do not need English assistance can directly access the Mainichi Shogakusei Shimbun site here. Furigana (hiragana) is added to all kanji in the text.
a day ago
80 Years On: Japanese Bride in Australia Overcame Postwar Hardships
News from Japan World Aug 15, 2025 11:30 (JST) Townsville, Australia, Aug. 15 (Jiji Press)--Akiko Kirkham was among about 650 Japanese women who migrated to Australia after marrying Australian servicemen from the Allied occupation forces stationed in Japan in the aftermath of World War II. In Australian society at the time, which privileged white people, these brides from a former enemy nation were greeted with icy stares and subjected to discrimination. Some were forced to conceal their Japanese identity simply to make a life in their new country. English Names [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Kyodo News
a day ago
- Kyodo News
FEATURE: Aging kin of 1985 JAL jet crash victims leaving messages for future
UENO, Japan - The steady passing of aging relatives of the victims of the 1985 Japan Airlines jumbo jet crash has been sad to watch for Kuniko Miyajima, a leading advocate for those who lost loved ones in the world's deadliest single-aircraft accident. But on its 40th anniversary, Miyajima's dedication to remembering the tragedy through her support group remains steadfast, especially in the interest of future air safety. In its first essay collection in a decade, her group self-published a booklet in mid-July in which dozens of its members record their emotional journeys and still-vivid memories of those they lost in hopes that it will provide valuable life lessons. "Telling our stories requires forcing our emotions out and it always carries a bit of pain. But safety is something we must build together, rather than just pray or wish for," writes the association of bereaved families. "Not forgetting the feelings helps strengthen safety culture." Preserving the memories of the accident remains challenging, both among the public and within Japan Airlines Co. As of the end of March, only 0.1 percent of employees had been with the company since the disaster. Including those rehired after reaching retirement age, the percentage is 3.6, according to JAL. The association released a collection of memoirs nearly every year until the 30th anniversary, titled "Akanegumo" (Red Cloud). The title refers to the sunset glow that passengers and crew aboard JAL Flight 123 would have seen on the evening flight before the crash, which claimed the lives of all but four of the 524 on board. In the new booklet, "After the Red Cloud," Machiko Taniguchi, 77, writes about how she still misses her husband, who died in the tragedy at the age of 40. She vows to continue her efforts to pass down her family's story through an illustrated book she created. Kimi Ozawa, whose 29-year-old husband died while she was pregnant with their child, writes, "Our son and his wife are now showing me a world I had hoped to walk through with you. They are beaming and, in them, I see reflections of ourselves." "Another year begins, and I will try to live -- please watch me, like you've always done," she adds. Some of the victims' offspring also contributed. Masayoshi Yamamoto, who was 5 when his father died in the crash, says he is happy watching his own children grow up. However, he cannot help but think, "If only my father were alive." Yamamoto reaches out to younger generations through a manga portraying the accident on social media. He says he wishes to preserve the lessons learned, especially as the anniversary makes him think more about aging families and fading memories. Many contributors felt the significance of recording their thoughts as they looked beyond the 40th anniversary, said Miyajima. An unexpectedly large number of essays were submitted, including some from elderly individuals who may have difficulty writing. A total of 32 people revealed their feelings in the booklet, including seven who had never contributed to the "Akanegumo" series before. In late July, Miyajima presented the latest publication to around 200 JAL employees gathered at the airline's headquarters in Tokyo to listen to her lecture on safety. "This is not just about resentment and bitterness," she told them, encouraging the audience to read the booklet. "I hope you will see a light for the future." In her essay, Miyajima, 78, writes about the helpless rage and sorrow she felt for her 9-year-old son, Ken, who died in the accident on Aug. 12, 1985. She also writes about her commitment to "forever keeping alive the memory of those who perished in the sunset sky" and her gratitude to those who have supported her. On the day of the accident, Miyajima saw Ken off at Haneda airport in Tokyo as he boarded the ill-fated flight to Osaka to visit relatives. His solo plane trip was a reward from his parents for swimming 25 meters in a pool for the first time. Approximately 12 minutes after takeoff, the flight crew lost control of the Boeing 747 and it slammed 32 minutes later into a mountain in Gunma Prefecture, which came to be called Osutaka Ridge. The accident stemmed from a faulty repair of the plane's rear pressure bulkhead seven years earlier following a tail-strike incident during landing. According to the accident investigation report, the bulkhead ruptured, blowing off the aircraft's vertical stabilizer and destroying its hydraulic lines. Only parts of Ken's body including his right hand were retrieved and returned to his family. Miyajima, who described herself as an "ordinary housewife" before the crash, became a powerful advocate for air safety and better assistance for victims of public transportation accidents after her son's death. Her group's persistent calls to preserve the wreckage of the crashed plane were successful when, in 2006, JAL opened its Safety Promotion Center, which displays parts of the crashed aircraft as well as other debris, and actual notes and photos of the final messages written by those on board. The center, located near Haneda airport, is used for the education of JAL Group employees and is open to the public. The facility inspired European aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE to open its own safety center in 2023, which showcases lessons learned from past accidents. During her July lecture, Miyajima praised the response to an incident in which a JAL jetliner collided with a coast guard plane at Haneda airport in January 2024, with all 379 passengers and crew evacuated from the burning JAL plane in what some foreign media outlets called a "miracle." Miyajima noted that continual training was likely behind the swift evacuation but emphasized that safety also relies on individual mindsets and the importance of being open to varying points of view. "I sometimes felt that JAL employees were shunning the bereaved families, which hurt my feelings because it made me think that the company was made up of people who were all the same, lacking individuality," she said. "But -- although it took quite a while -- there have been employees thought about safety with us and walked alongside us," she said. "As the 41st year begins, let's work together to create safety."
