Ex-Flight Attendant’s Journey to Becoming Japan Airlines CEO: A Compelling Story

Mitsuko Tottori began her career as a flight attendant in 1985. Three decades later, in 2015, she was appointed senior director of cabin attendants, and then steadily climbed through the ranks to become the President and CEO of Japan Airlines in 2024.

She is the first woman to hold this position. Her rise from a flight attendant to the boss of the airline was described as a rare feat, with her appointment being hailed as a milestone for women’s empowerment.

The announcement sent shockwaves across the country’s corporate sector, as she had started her career as a member of the cabin crew. Upon her appointment, JAL joined less than 1% of Japan’s top companies led by women.

Ms. Tottori expressed her hope for Japan to become a place where it is not surprising when a woman becomes a president, emphasizing the importance of increasing the number of women managers and encouraging women to be actively involved in leadership roles. Ms. Tottori’s background differs vastly from her predecessors.

While the last 10 men who held the post were educated at Japan’s top university, Ms. Tottori is a graduate of a far less prestigious women-only junior college, the Kwassui Women’s Junior College in Nagasaki. Her appointment as CEO marks a significant moment for women in leadership in Japan.