An Account of Flight Attendant Mitsuko Tottori’s Journey to CEO of Japan Airlines

Numerous success stories have been shared on the internet. Many individuals have been motivated to pursue their goals by these success tales, which have reinforced the idea that anybody can succeed with effort, tenacity, and resolve. Mitsuko Tottori was just named Japan Airlines’ Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in January. In the business world, this announcement was historic since it marked a significant turning point in her career. After many years of arduous effort, Mitsuko—who began her career as a member of the cabin crew—has been promoted to CEO. Many people have found enormous inspiration in her narrative.

Mitsuko Tottori began working as a flight attendant in 1985 and eventually rose to a senior role at Japanese Airlines. In 2015, Mitsuko—who had been employed for over thirty years—was named senior director of cabin attendants. She rose rapidly through the ranks to become Japan Airlines’ president and CEO in 2024. She is now the airline’s first female employee in this role. With the appointment of Mitsuko Tottori as CEO, Japan Airlines has officially joined the fewer than 1 percent of the country’s top businesses led by women. The airlines disclosed that their choice to choose Mitsuko as CEO was influenced by her background and her involvement during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Of the ten individuals who have held the top position at Japan Airlines so far, seven have attended selective schools and colleges. However, Mitsuko Tottori proved to be an anomaly. Compared to her forebears, she comes from a totally different background. Mitsuko graduated from Kwassui Women’s Junior institution in Nagasaki, a less esteemed women’s institution.

In addition, Mitsuko has fought to guarantee that women and men are equally represented in Japan’s business sector. Mistuko said, “Japan is still in the process of establishing the initial goal of increase of female managers,” in an interview with CNN. I hope that when a woman is elected president of Japan, people there won’t be shocked by it.