From Tragedy to Advocacy, Remembering the 1985 JAL Crash and Championing Flight Safety

Machiko Taniguchi, who lost her husband in the 1985 Japan Airlines crash, recently addressed young JAL employees involved in flight safety. She emphasized the importance of their role, stating that the safety of the skies depended on their vigilance.

A week later, Taniguchi visited the crash site on Osutaka Ridge, where she stood before her husband's memorial. She shared that she had urged the employees to prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again.

In August 1985, her husband, Masakatsu, was aboard Japan Airlines Flight 123 when it crashed, resulting in the deaths of 520 people. Before the crash, he wrote a note to his wife, expressing his concern for their children.

Taniguchi struggled to cope with the loss initially. However, a turning point came when the persimmon tree her husband had planted bore fruit. This event helped her and her children begin to move forward.

Inspired by her granddaughter, Taniguchi self-published a picture book in 2016, sharing her family's memories. She has since given numerous readings, hoping to promote safety in the skies.

The crash was attributed to improper repairs by Boeing Co. and shortcomings in JAL's inspection procedures. Taniguchi believes that if the repairs had been done correctly, the lives of the 520 victims and their families would have been spared.

Taniguchi's wish to speak to JAL's maintenance staff was fulfilled when she shared her story with new employees. She urged them to protect the future. The employees listened attentively.

She revisited the crash site, leaving a revised picture book and her husband's favorite beverages at his memorial. For her, Osutaka Ridge is a place where she can connect with her husband.

Forty years have passed since the tragedy. Taniguchi feels it was fate that she was able to give a lecture at JAL during this milestone year. She continues to visit Osutaka Ridge every summer, as it is a place of remembrance and connection for her.