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JAL ditches 'ladies and gentlemen' for gender-neutral greetings

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By Kazuhiro NOGI

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I have that famous CD of Cheap Trick 'Live At Budokan', a classic released in 1979. It's one of the best live albums EVER and I have seen the band live 7 times to date, more than anybody else. The first and next-to-last last tracks on it address the audience in song. So the next time Cheap Trick plays Japan how are they going to alter their lyrics such as:

Hello there ladies and gentlemen

Hello there ladies and gents

Are you ready to rock....

I hope they never do! We need to use our heads, alright?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

How about addressing everybody with a Big Simple 'YO'?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

towingthelineSep. 29  03:06 pm JST

*What's next. No Male or Female toilets?*

When will this "but i'm offended" madness end.

In some bookstores in America I see restrooms labeled as 'Gender Neutral'. No kidding. So I guess that's to make sure that Ziggy Stardust knows where it can go!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Halwick

Might one propose Gentlefolk? 

Hardly anybody these days act in a "gentlefolk" manner. Besides, it sounds patronizing

Patronising, really? I think not. I guess it must just be in the ear of the beholder - by the way , it is spelt with an s where I do hail from and I find the use of a z quite insulting ;- ) - removes tongue from cheek ( although as always it is the listener who construes meaning and often knowest not what the speaker doth truly mean - hence really has no right of complaint - to illustrate I could call you a potato - which could have a good or bad meaning - but only I knoweth the true answer to that.... ).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nippor Nick

We would like to welcome everyone aboard.

There, that wasn't so hard, was it?

Indeed, then how come JAL has to make official statements about this, when they can just apply this without making a big noise? Or maybe the real intention is using LGBT for marketing?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I have LGBT friends, who really don't mind these announcements. They want same sex marriage legalized though. So this is an empty gesture , more of a marketing campaign. Why not do a campaign to legalize same sex marriage instead? So what are they gonna ban next? Babies gender reveals?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

What's next. No Male or Female toilets?

There are no Male or Female toilets on planes. No one seems to get worked up about that.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

We would like to welcome everyone aboard.

There, that wasn't so hard, was it?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

boSep. 29  06:46 am JST

We, us, our, is not amused

Maybe they think everybody's so ill mannered anyway. 'Ladies', 'gentlemen' - do they rally 'EXIST' today because you don't see much of that in the limelight? How about 'lice and germs' instead? Or a just plain, 'Heyyyyy, everybody!'?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

as long as I can get to my destination, I don’t give a d-mn...

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Or they could use the data from the body scanners at the security check to offer every single passenger a personalized greeting as they board. That would be the customer service Japan is known for.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Then on every form and papers, either they should omit Mr, Mrs, Miss etc or should be the option any LGBT prefer, at least Not 'Others'. That would just be offensive. A gay isn't Mr.

But what is there to be called them beside ...... (there u go..u all have the words for them)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Even if you undertake surgery to get rid of your sex organs, you are not gender neutral. It's hardcoded in your DNA. Basic elementary school science.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

No news is good news

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I hope those who are complaining either don't travel or use another airline and leave the rest of us to travel in peace. Hey, you could always try one of the American airlines.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Those who scream about rights for LGBTQ and those who squeal about pronouns are very, very few in terms of numbers, but they are noisy, which makes it seem that there are a lot of them.

Bertie -I've been reading there comments and there is a lot of "noise", but it all seems to be squealing of the "political correctness gone mad" variety.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Gender neutral? There are biologically only two types that is female or male at birth.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Welcome Earthlings?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Good grief, Japan jumping on the gender insanity wagon is the last thing I expected.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Whats the problem ? I don't care what they call me !!!!

Good morning, afternoon, evening is perfectly ok .

I do understand though for ..what is it certain people refer to themselves as " non binary " ? For them its good .

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Great news. Next get rid of sir and madam.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Oh, I get it. JAL doesn't respect us anymore. We are a bunch of thugs and ratchet hoes.

We are no longer worthy of being called "Ladies and Gentlemen". This has more to do with how we conduct ourselves on flights.

OH, wait, I see it. People in First Class are called Ladies and Gentlemen. We peasants in Economy are undeserving of such titles.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

But you hopefully know, if such a minority is finally consisting of only one person, it will converge into a dictatorship, don’t you?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

While seeing reactionaries frothing at the mouth amuses me, I've never come across someone who would have a problem with bring addressed by either lady or gentleman.

In fact, I struggle to think of ever having met someone who didn't identify as of those. Perhaps one in my life who was completely gender ambiguous (and I still have no idea what sex they were), but they didn't ask that I used the "vi" pronoun or anything.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If they had just changed it and not made an announcement, no one would have noticed.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Aren't LGBT flights for same sex partners diverse? What about inclusivity for hetrosexual couples?

The announcement of 'ladies and gentlemen' doesn't allude to matching partners on the flight. There could be 99.9% females on a flight and 1 man and you could still announce ladies and gentlemen. This is ridiculous.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I will only believe the sincerity of the Japanese people regarding gender equality if I see them accept and embrace female sushi chefs. I dare JAL to have a sushi counter with a female taisho (chef) at one of their

lounges.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The answer is that simple magic word "Everyone"

No, that wont do at all. Youre exluding people with split personalities.

Surely for the person with multiple personalities, "everyone" world's be ideal.

If you are going to vaguely mock mental illness, at least get your insults the right way round.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I guess addressing them as humans would be out of the question too because there are some freaks who will state, “I don’t identify as a human.”

For those with a passing interest in logical fallacies, this is a good example of argumentum ad absurdum.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

So much for a traditional greeting, that has absolutely nothing to do with rather focused and genuine concerns in specific & certain communities.

Sleight of hand and stagecraft. However, well-meaning or not.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ladles and jellyspoons

Ladles and jellyspoons

I come before you

to stand behind you

and tell you something

I know nothing about.

Next Friday,

the day before Thursday, there will be a ladies' meeting for men only.

Wear your best clothes,

if you haven't any,

and if you can come, please stay home.

Admission is free,

you can pay at the door.

We'll give you a seat,

so you can sit on the floor.

It doesn't matter where you sit,

the man in the gallery

is sure to spit.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

What's next... (In Japanese and English), "Welcome aboard all lifeforms...?"

Lifeforms? What about non-lifeforms, i.e., pet rock, carry-on baggage and contents? Excluding non-lifeforms would be exclusive and violate political correctness. (LOL)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

@towingtheline, will countries start to alter their immigration form to suit as commanteer posted? it will be 10 m long, then we will have complaints of wasting to much paper!! ( which could be recycled in the toilets )

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Or how about, 'Good morning, everyone'. That sounds just about as inclusive as you can get.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@commanteer, sorry I think you missed out cross dressers, you may need to upgrade your list. ( just in case you offend anyone)

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Can't use that it is from the American South, and anything connected with the South nowadays is a reminder of bigotry, racism, prejuduce and discrimination. Someone will be offended.

They could try it in the South, but PC talk like that just won't work there.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

What's next. No Male or Female toilets?

When will this "but i'm offended" madness end.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Stop the world, its gone mad, I want to get off! I understand that we need to respect other races, religions, and gender orientation, but is this not a step too far? the announcement " ladies and gentlemen" is certainly not picking on any one, are we not pampering to a small hand full of individuals?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

What's next... (In Japanese and English), "Welcome aboard all lifeforms...?"

4 ( +5 / -1 )

If you are offended by ladies and gentlemen, you must wake up each day looking for something to be offended by.

Implement a business plan that marginalizes over 99% of your customer base to appeal to

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Reasonable move by JAL. I’ve noticed for some time that the number of “Ladies and Gentlemen” on flights has been decreasing.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

“I am not one, I am MANY!”

Perhaps you can pay all the extra fares too.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Japan Airlines is ditching the phrase "ladies and gentlemen" and instead embracing gender neutral terms during in-flight and airport announcements from next month, the company said Monday.

Instead of taking advantage of the high demand for cargo during this pandemic and putting their planes in the skies and making money and not waiting for government hand out of 3B usd, they are busy thinking of how to address the sexes.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

And what about those with multiple personalities?

“I am not one, I am MANY!”

1 ( +2 / -1 )

*The answer is that simple magic word "Everyone"*

No, that wont do at all. Youre exluding people with split personalities.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I can kind of understand what "political correctness" is getting at but what does Marxism have to do with LGBT issues? Which specific passages in Marx's writings are about LGBT?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

And no doubt "Sir", "Ma'am", "Mister", "Miss" and anything indicative or suggesting a gender will also be eliminated.

Ah, political correctness run amuck!

"Good morning AgenderAndrogyneAndrogynousBigenderCisCisgenderCis FemaleCis MaleCis ManCis WomanCisgender FemaleCisgender MaleCisgender ManCisgender WomanFemale to MaleFTMGender FluidGender NonconformingGender QuestioningGender VariantGenderqueerIntersexMale to FemaleMTFNeitheNeutroisNon-binaryPangenderTrans FemaleTrans FemaleTrans MaleTrans MaleTrans ManTrans ManTrans PersonTrans PersonTrans WomanTrans* WomanTransfeminineTransgenderTransgender FemaleTransgenderMaleTransgenderManTransgenderPersonTransgenderWomanTransmasculineTranssexualTranssexual FemaleTranssexual MaleTranssexual ManTranssexual PersonTranssexual WomanTwoSpirit passengers.

We are afraid our flight will be departing a few minutes behind schedule due to extended announcement times. We apologize for the delay. We also apologize for excluding mention of any genders that were created between the start of our announcement and the end. It was unintentional."

Whew.....I think you've got everyone covered, including apologies of unintentional exclusion. I'm impressed. Uh, which one are you?

For authentic gender neutrality, may I suggest y’all, as in, “Y’all come back now, y’hear?”

Can't use that it is from the American South, and anything connected with the South nowadays is a reminder of bigotry, racism, prejuduce and discrimination. Someone will be offended.

Might one propose Gentlefolk? 

Hardly anybody these days act in a "gentlefolk" manner. Besides, it sounds patronizing

The answer is that simple magic word "Everyone" which has been in use for a 1,000 years.

I think you are right and possibly least offensive.

"Everyone, please be seated and enjoy the rest of the flight and thank you for choosing JAL."

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Some real good comments today,

1 ( +1 / -0 )

"Welcome to all our customers, ladies and gentlemen and the fat bloke in a dress in 34b".

There you go, totally inclusive. Who did I miss out?

6 ( +6 / -0 )

When will this nonsense end

9 ( +9 / -0 )

How ironic,, all these people posting “all these negative comments” .....for people simply having an opposite opinion to theirs or the current common fad to be upset over. Why exactly are they negative ? They merely have a different opinion.

Exactly. Its the old leftist tactic of trying to suppress opposition by labelling it “negative”. They do it all the time.

Another case in point:

@AlfieNoakes: Still, it's always amusing to watch the usual suspects foaming at the mouth at ...

No ones foaming at the mouth, Alfie. Some just happen to have an opinion that doesnt go along with the neo marxist narrative.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Whether you like it or not gender is biological.

Except when its psychological. You do realize that the flight attendants are not about to perform an operation or intercourse with you? The point is to address your mind, not your body.

That said extreme minorities are going to remain extreme minorities pretty much their whole lives. Semantical changes won't fix it. As a non-Japanese living in Japan and pretty much stuck here, I have some sense of being an extreme minority. Maybe moreso because back home I supposedly even had white privilege and I have lost some of it at least. But if you are a minority, you are. You got to deal with it or pick your battles to fight actual oppression. This is window dressing and as such, its even more offensive!

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

As a perfectly rude person, I have been extremely offended at being assumed to be anywhere near the category of "ladies and gentlemen". Thank goodness that persistent insult to my character is finally going to end!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Lower prices, then We'll care.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

How ironic,, all these people posting “all these negative comments” .....for people simply having an opposite opinion to theirs or the current common fad to be upset over. Why exactly are they negative ? They merely have a different opinion.

Whether you like it or not gender is biological. What you deem to portray yourself as is up to you, her, him, we, they...

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Oh no, Japan going along the woke path as the US. I thought Japan was more sensible than that.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

I'm a gentleman! I'm not "good morning"! What about those of us who want to be greeted as we are: Men and Women?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

And here I am thinking I heard of the stupidest thing already!

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why not just use 'everyone'?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

As someone posted - Ladies and Gentlemen is decidedly dated - and not because of any PC standard.

As a decades long teacher to people from school age to university to middle age to elderly I can never recall using the term L & G. In fact I've never used the term Boys & Girls - which brings to mind, that the term L&G excludes children who are frequent users of planes!!! But I guess that fits in with the also dated notion that children should be seen and not heard.

The answer is that simple magic word "Everyone" which has been in use for a 1,000 years.

Has fitted all cases for eons and continues to do so.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Safety first please JAL. Thank you.

Safe passage outweighs gender.

Love and peace .

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Abolishing “Ladies and Gentlemen” seems a bit extreme but it’s a cheap way to sell a progressive image and JAL knows it.

I agree, it’s stupid, bowing to the PC cancel culture, but whatever, I don’t fly with JAL anyway so they can do whatever they want, best of luck to them.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Cool.

People who hate gender-neutral ways of addressing people must lose their mind when they're in Japan and announcements go, "mina-sama".

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

I am confused by all the comments, who cares about gendered greetings, what the issue with just saying good morning or good evening ?!

Usually people will not give a damn about saying "L and G" or "Good morning" but because JAL is saying they are doing it to not offense the LGBT people so they are all worked up to say this is PC gone crazy or I am offended I am not addressed correctly or even write a ridiculous long comment to ridicule the move.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Hey JAL you forget to mention that pet on board will also be happy to do not get discrimination as they are the biggest minority right?! And spirit of dead vegetable, fruit, meat, fish etc...also.

Next step, all staff including pilot in diving suit or halloween costume for complete equality of gender on board.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So when I buy a ticket, they say to me "Here you are Human/Being/It/Sucker"?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good morning or good afternoon Passengers of ..... Flight ....

Keep using passengers if you do not want genders.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

'Good morning passengers.' Or in economy class, 'Good morning cattle/sardines. Welcome aboard'.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Darned if you do, darned if you don't when it comes to any and all things related to Japan.

You would think that a Japanese organization that does something to de-emphasize gender differences would elicit more praise in this comments section.

After all, don't a lot of visitors to this website think Japanese society is somehow the most sexist, ignorant, and xenophobic country in the world? And in turn, would you not then think these same people would find it positive that this 'most sexist' nation is making progress in combatting that?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

this PC garbage is seriously getting out of hand

13 ( +14 / -1 )

I’m all for forward-thinking, gender neutral, LGBT, etc,

but everything doesn’t have to become a movement or a protest.

As a tomboy I didn’t like being referred to as a “lady”, or “miss » or worse yet, “ma’am“, but I just accept that that’s the way the world works and that’s the way other people view me.

Let the world fight for equal rights, but end it there. No need to get finicky.

Its getting to the point where I’m uncomfortable speaking. I don’t know what to call black people, disabled people, gay people......

All the terms eventually get abused and become derogatory. Living abroad, I am losing track!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

As a lifeform from Cygnus A, I have to ask, what took them so damn long?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Might one propose Gentlefolk? A perfectly all emcompassing word that has been present in the English language since Shakespeare and possibly earlier..... as for the support chicken, "may I offer you fries or coleslaw with that?"

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

The airline would rather be rude to 99.999% of customers so that 0.001% might not get offended, when there was nothing to be offended about anyway.

10 ( +15 / -5 )

@LDTM

Self-Loading Cargo has also been used to describe passengers in the typical cramped seating of a modern airplane.

However, back on topic, the usual Japanese expressions -san and -sama are totally gender neutral.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I bet inclusivity at JAL does not extend as far as female employees in customer-facing roles not wearing makeup or having certain hairstyles, body shapes, etc.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Well say anything..for the money.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

I am confused by all the comments, who cares about gendered greetings, what the issue with just saying good morning or good evening ?!

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

And in other news, JAL said it would also get rid of the genders in the Japanese announcements. Instead of okyaku-sama, they will use....................oh wait, they're going to use the genderless okyaku-sama. Everybody, start getting angry.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

This country's been going downhill since they got rid of "Ahoy there, mateys!"

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Instead of gender neutral, JAL should be more gender inclusive!

"Ladies and gentlemen, homosexuals, lesbians, and other people who are not quite sure of the connection between their state of mind and the genitalia they were born with..."

13 ( +17 / -4 )

How about if JAL announced Ladies and Gentlemen and the easily offended insecure special ones who need to identified seperatlley because they are too sensitive and feel the need to make issues out of everything little thing.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

Whatever works, just a simple acknowledgement goes a long way than being totally ignored.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Now I am wondering if Tokyo Disneyland will follow the trend. They're blasting a jolly "and now Ladies and Gentlemen" through their speakers every ow and then.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I think that's fair, fewer people identify as Lady or Gentleman. It takes class, education, self-respect to qualify as a Lady or a Gentlemen. Words have meaning and society is breeding egotistic, self entitled and easily offended people. That said, I have no quarrel with gender identity.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

What utter nonsense.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

JAL ditches 'ladies and gentlemen' for gender-neutral greetings

This is getting a bit out of hand...

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Commanteer, that was hilarious, puts it right in its true context! The problem's never going to go away with the rise and rise of the PC/woke movement unfortunately. The announcers could say "Folks", but that sounds American and corny. They could say "People", but that sounds like a line from Ricky Gervais in "The Office". Best not to say anything except, maybe, "Attention please".

8 ( +12 / -4 )

Maybe I'm just clueless but I always assumed a Gay Man is also a "Gentleman" and a Gay Woman is also a "lady", at least as far as polite addressing is concerned. OK, I can see a problem with Trans sexuals though.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Ladies & Gentlemen referred to class and social standing. (Manners didn't make a person a gentleman, it was being a landholder who didn't work/labour himself that made a man a gentleman. And to be a lady you needed to be the daughter or wife of a member of the gentry). A person could display behaviour unbecoming of a gentleman eg. Mr. Wickham, and early Mr. Darcy).

My own identity is not so fragile that I'm in any way impacted by this change to be more inclusive. Why are so many people so butthurt over an attempt to be nicer and more welcoming?

-6 ( +8 / -14 )

Another example of the encroachment of neo-Marxism into all aspects of society- even international travel. Sex and gender were always considered to be synonyms until identitarian marxism latched on to the term to further their ideological goals. Propagandists always use language to manipulate the people. The propaganda works on those without the critical thinking skills to realize they are being manipulated.

The science of biology has been turned on its head. There are males, females and a tiny portion of the population suffer a developmental birth defect and are intersex. That’s it. Their is no spectrum of gender. It’s crazy to think otherwise.

10 ( +19 / -9 )

The term Ladies & Gentlemen used to be used to refer to ones manners not so much their gender, more about how they behaved and their social etiquette , JAL could simply announce Ladies, Gentlemen and Others instead of pandering to this minority group.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Getting tired of these minorities

15 ( +23 / -8 )

Those who scream about rights for LGBTQ and those who squeal about pronouns are very, very few in terms of numbers, but they are noisy, which makes it seem that there are a lot of them.

There aren’t.

Invalid CSRF X2

15 ( +19 / -4 )

kohakuebisuToday 08:10 am JST

I'm far more interested in how much taxpayer money JAL is getting during COVID-19. I bet it is loads more than less connected businesses out there.

The fanfare behind this announcement is clearly for some "we're inclusive, y'all!" free publicity. However, it is 100% possible to introduce policy changes like this quietly without shouting it all over the newspapers. Other stories, even other LGBT ones, deserve more attention than this.

My immediate thought on reading the article, too. JAL was struggling in early April (and has been struggling for years before that) and there were stories of bank bailouts then.

Still, it's always amusing to watch the usual suspects foaming at the mouth at the imminent collapse of modern civilization because JAL have dropped "ladies and gentlemen".

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

OMG, finally! Next, we can move to erase other offensive words like "male, female, man and woman." And while we're at it, let's also change the words "human" and "mankind," as they're signs of misogyny since they both contain the sexist word "man" and might offend those less resilient female... Sorry. Those less resilient "fems" and neutral genders.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

I guess addressing them as humans would be out of the question too because there are some freaks who will state, “I don’t identify as a human.”

Just another load of crap from a PC world gone crazy!

12 ( +19 / -7 )

Instead of that, they should better improve the leg distance for seats in the economy class, and stock up their alcoholic drinks for the passengers.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

Who would've thought it? A Japanese company following the circus of the west. Shame on you JAL!

20 ( +25 / -5 )

Gender topics aside, it is an outdated expression and I'm impressed that the Japanese are doing something progressive.

-18 ( +5 / -23 )

Yet another example of overhauling a policy to cater to 0.6% of the adult population.

I'm reminded of the same principle in summer when I see passengers jammed uncomfortably in the aircon carriages of Tokyo trains, while the low-aircon carriages on the same train are half empty. Today, we live in a society that awards privileges to tiny minorities at the expense of everyone else, and that ain't fair.

16 ( +20 / -4 )

Will there be aliens and robots on the flight too? Sheesh....when is this BS going to end?

18 ( +22 / -4 )

The fanfare behind this announcement is clearly for some "we're inclusive, y'all!" free publicity. However, it is 100% possible to introduce policy changes like this quietly without shouting it all over the newspapers. Other stories, even other LGBT ones, deserve more attention than this.

Yeah agreed. If they’d just gone ahead and started using “Good morning passengers” nobody would have even noticed and there’d be zero fuss.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"Good morning everybody."

How painful was that?

3 ( +15 / -12 )

I'm far more interested in how much taxpayer money JAL is getting during COVID-19. I bet it is loads more than less connected businesses out there.

The fanfare behind this announcement is clearly for some "we're inclusive, y'all!" free publicity. However, it is 100% possible to introduce policy changes like this quietly without shouting it all over the newspapers. Other stories, even other LGBT ones, deserve more attention than this.

Whatever the new greeting is, I hope it is short so the staff can shut up and turn on the entertainment system.

16 ( +16 / -0 )

"Good morning AgenderAndrogyneAndrogynousBigenderCisCisgenderCis FemaleCis MaleCis ManCis WomanCisgender FemaleCisgender MaleCisgender ManCisgender WomanFemale to MaleFTMGender FluidGender NonconformingGender QuestioningGender VariantGenderqueerIntersexMale to FemaleMTFNeitheNeutroisNon-binaryPangenderTrans FemaleTrans FemaleTrans MaleTrans MaleTrans ManTrans ManTrans PersonTrans PersonTrans WomanTrans* WomanTransfeminineTransgenderTransgender FemaleTransgenderMaleTransgenderManTransgenderPersonTransgenderWomanTransmasculineTranssexualTranssexual FemaleTranssexual MaleTranssexual ManTranssexual PersonTranssexual WomanTwoSpirit passengers.

We are afraid our flight will be departing a few minutes behind schedule due to extended announcement times. We apologize for the delay. We also apologize for excluding mention of any genders that were created between the start of our announcement and the end. It was unintentional."

33 ( +38 / -5 )

The Japanese greeting is simply, “attention all passengers.” “Sir” and “ma’am” are both just the genderless “—-San” or the persons rank. (Bucho, shacho, sempai, etc)

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Maybe they should just address everyone, “hey peeps!”

8 ( +10 / -2 )

”YOU people, please go to Gate 10 as we will soon start boarding..."

27 ( +27 / -0 )

Will the flight attendants still address passengers as Sir or Madam. I cannot think of an appropriate and polite alternative.

22 ( +24 / -2 )

Always wondered why I don't fly with JAL, now I know why...they're irrelevant, this proves it.

I'm also upset I won't be referred to by appropriate gender.

-1 ( +10 / -11 )

LOL. All these negative comments. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

-16 ( +11 / -27 )

Stunning and brave.

-13 ( +9 / -22 )

Abolishing “Ladies and Gentlemen” seems a bit extreme but it’s a cheap way to sell a progressive image and JAL knows it.

21 ( +24 / -3 )

Erm, there are only two sexes. Is JAL stupidly thinking sex and gender are the same? Ladies and gentlemen is inclusive, I do not see a problem with it.

24 ( +29 / -5 )

I do not think they need to change it. However, I am also not against changing it. It is JAL's decision. Look at all the nasty comments. People get worked up so easily.

-12 ( +10 / -22 )

Unchecked, this nonsense will continue to corrupt our language and culture.

32 ( +38 / -6 )

Much ado about nothing.

In the end, it doesn't really even matter. It's silly and nonsensical, but "en vogue" now.

This too shall pass and we can focus on things that actually matter in this world.

Until then, ignore it and just let it be.

13 ( +20 / -7 )

Getting tired of political correctness

45 ( +60 / -15 )

Good lord! This is absurd. I have no issues with those that identify themselves as trans gender. It’s something I cannot understand and according to my friend’s daughter (who is trans gender) she does not think I could understand and does not expect me to.

However changing our language and parts of lives for this is insanity. Also in the U.S. gender change is subsidized by tax money in many cases; another facet I take issue with.

I wonder what will come next.

Orwell was so right but just had the year wrong.

45 ( +52 / -7 )

Surprised to see all the negative comments. Have always thought the “ladies and gentlemen” expression to be outdated and considered the move to refrain its use (as with London and NY buses and metros etc) to be quite natural. Who cares what JAL is actually thinking or not thinking. Nothing to make a big fuss about and absolutely pointless in trying to generalize and criticize the so-called “Japanese mindset” over this.

-34 ( +13 / -47 )

Thank God.

For years the zero people on planet earth who cared about a JAL greeting have not been able to travel due to their outrage at the thought of just 2 sexes.

2+2-5

Slowly we inch. slowly we inch...

28 ( +36 / -8 )

Ladies and gentlemen is the perfect greeting as there are TWO sexes. Those of one sex who wish they were the other can be assume they are being referred to as the sex of “their choice” not reality.

There are only two sexes (although I'm not sure how you classify those who are born inter- sex, like hermaphrodites, and those born with AIS), but gender is a social concept, usually, but not always, correlated to sex.

-28 ( +15 / -43 )

LDTMToday  06:55 am JST

Why don’t you just say what you really mean:

”Hello, consumer meat bags, welcome aboard our pressurised fart canister”

had to(⌒▽⌒)

20 ( +23 / -3 )

Ladies and gentlemen is the perfect greeting as there are TWO sexes. Those of one sex who wish they were the other can be assume they are being referred to as the sex of “their choice” not reality.

But with Japan virtually eliminating all international passengers, the remaining staff at JAL head quarters have a lot of time on their hands to waste on nonsense.

51 ( +63 / -12 )

This is a case of Japanese saying what they don’t really believe to be true. That is tatemae. Japanese can do it. Westerners cannot do it - If Westerners say something, they’ve a pressure to actually believe it. That’s why political correctness is not as dangerous in Japan as it is in the US, for example.

It’s still disgusting, though.

29 ( +40 / -11 )

How woke JAL is!

19 ( +28 / -9 )

Japan: gender neutral, yet very Nihonjinron (focused on issues of Japanese national and cultural identity).

13 ( +20 / -7 )

We, us, our, is not amused

50 ( +58 / -8 )

Good move Japan Airlines!

-73 ( +16 / -89 )

Good grief.

68 ( +85 / -17 )

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