The Japan Airlines Heralbony Amenity Kit series is one of my favorite amenity kit releases in recent times.
In fact, I received two (thanks to a generous passenger sitting next to me) on a flight from Tokyo Haneda to San Francisco in early April. Unfortunately, I lost my SD card the week after this flight previous to downloading the images to post here.
Never the less, I was so impressed and fascinated with the amenity kit design and contents, I decided to fly the airline again on my reverse trip at the end of April from Seattle to Tokyo (a route I’ve flown in reverse before) – just so I could get more versions of this amenity kit!
Japan Airlines Partnership with Heralbony
In 2023, Japan Airlines (JAL) entered into a business partnership with Heralbony Co., Ltd. (Headquartered in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture; hereinafter referred to as “Heralbony”) with the aim of addressing social issues arising from biased perceptions toward individuals with disabilities.
The goal is to create new ways to experience diverse perspectives through the exposure to remarkable art while traveling with JAL.
Starting in December 2023, passengers in International First Class and Business Class receive original
pouches featuring artwork by Heralbony’s contracted artists as inflight amenities. This also aligns with JAL’s launch of the A350-1000 and their new First & Business Class experience.
A total of 10 different pouch designs are available – 4 for First Class and 6 for Business Class. These amenity kits are available on routes from Japan to Europe, the United States, and Australia.
Artists featured in 2024 include Koichi Tsuchiya, Atsuhito Fujiki, Tomohiro Watanabe, Keisuke Mori, Sanae Sasaki, Marina, and GAMON.
Japan Airlines Heralbony Relief Amenity Kit by Marina-Mori3
On my latest JAL flight from Seattle to Tokyo Narita, I received the “Relief” Amenity Kit by Marina-Mori3.
Each case is made in China and comes wrapped in a brown JAL wrapper.
The zipper opens all the way to halfway around the case, one of my favorite design features for amenity kits.
There’s a small leather holder at the zipper. Each amenity kit is about two and a half inches in width.
Due to many users inserting the cable into a USB port incorrectly (and damaging it), JAL has now placed a special disclaimer on the case cover. As I understand it, the cables are also discontinued on the newest amenity kits!
The cover art of each case is a beautiful fabric texture with the art integrated. The Heralbony body is embroidered in.
With the zipper allowing opening halfway down each case, the top pouch opens quite wide.
Each amenity kit has the beautiful JAL logo and written tag instead the case.
Each amenity kit also has a bright colored interior lining inside the case.
Inside the amenity kit, you’ll also find a paper guide to the artwork represented on the amenity kit.
The paper guide provides an explanation to the artwork and shape of the amenity kit.
Sushi, games, cooking and drawing – is what marina loves. She brightens up the place with her cheerful personality like a ray of sunshine as she happily dances to music and reports on the daily school lunch menu. She started creating artwork at the age of 12, and among various artistic activities, her favorites is to fill the notebook with “word-ish” characters and symbols. Is it an ancient inscription, a futuristic language of the cosmos, or simply whimsical creations without any specific meaning? The enigmatic typography, flowing as if in a rush, tempts people to unravel its secrets, but only the artist truly knows the answer.
After reading this, I realized the goal of the art is of free-form expression, which also explains why the amenity kits are sized differently.
Japan Airlines Heralbony Blue Amenity Kit by Sanae Sasaki
On a different flight from Tokyo to San Francisco, I received the Blue version of JAL’s amenity kit, by Sanae Sasaki.
After reading this, I realized the goal of the art is of free-form expression, which also explains why the amenity kits are sized differently.
Since starting creative activites in the 90s, Sanae Sasaki has been continuously exploring various forms of expression, including not only painting by also weaving, paper cutting, embroidery, and more. Although the content of their creations change over time, each work remains intricate and rich in color and composition. In recent years, her creative process has undergone frequent transformations, experimenting with techniques such as coloring concentric circles of paper cutouts in multiple colors and arranging them on walls, or drawing multiple circles on drawing paper and filling them with red market. Her art is constantly evolving and full of transformations.
Amenity Kit Contents
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste kit – this is the same one found in the restrooms in the cabin.
- Pocket Tissue Kit
- Ear plugs
- Black Eye Mask
- USB-C and iPhone Lighting Charging Cable – red & white color, convertible.
- Phone docking holder
- Paper fold-out guide to Sanae Sasaki (and other artists).
I thought the contents of the JAL amenity kit were also well thought out, with the basics for a solid amenity kit fully covered.
I would have loved to see a lip balm and facial mist included as well, but I believe these are found in the JAL First Class amenity kits!
The coolest features of the amenity kit contents are the phone charger cables and the phone docking holder. These are so useful!
Just one comment on the cable – when you put this into the slot, just make sure you put this in the right direction so the electronic contacts actually engage. I placed mine into my charger in the wrong direction at first, and saw that my camera wasn’t charging. However, I reversed this and it worked just fine.
On my most recent trip, JAL has added a disclaimer not to use these cables at the USB ports on their Business Class seats. Apparently enough people have inserted these the wrong way, and destroyed the ports at each seat, rather than understanding how to insert the cables to connect the copper contacts. Unfortunately, if not already discontinued, these cables will soon be so.
Bonus Section: Japan Airlines Business Class Amenity Kit for Intra-Asia Flights
As a bonus, I wanted to compare my amenity kit on this flight to what you receive in Business Class on Japan Airlines on flights within Asia.
The amenity kit on intra-Asia flights is far simpler, coming in a JAL retractable pouch.
The contents of the amenity kit are also reduced compared to the intercontinental amenity kits.
Amenity Kit Contents (JAL Intra-Asia Flights)
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste kit – this is the same one found in the restrooms in the cabin.
- Pocket Tissue Kit
- Ear plugs
- Black Eye Mask
There are only four items that come in this amenity kit; however, the kit and materials are both high quality.
Final Thoughts
I love the case design of the square amenity kits, and frankly I prefer it over the rectangular amenity kit primarily for the shape.
The amenity kit happens to fit my external hard drive, MacBook Pro charger, and spare cell phone battery module perfectly, while also housing all the associated cables.
Honestly, I was looking to replace my prior Air France amenity kit bag, and I just did!
The Japan Airlines Business Class amenity kit is a bit light on contents, but it’s also well thought out. I’ve never seen a cell phone holder and charging cable handed out in an amenity kit, but honestly both are incredibly useful items that are keepers for long term use.
Buying a cable outright usually costs at least $10, although it’s commonly over $20 USD especially if purchased at the airport.
Pros:
- Beautiful case designs! I’ve had multiple people ask me about these unique pouches and where I got them from.
- I love that there are six (or more) different collectible pieces to choose from.
- The zipper opens around the side of the amenity kit, providing lots of room to open. There’s plenty of room within each case.
- The phone charger USB cables and phone docks are an incredible collectible item, and immensely useful for all kinds of usage.
Cons:
- You can’t find these amenity kits on JAL’s intra-Asia flights – only those to other continents!
- The cable is easy to insert the wrong way. Unfortunately it looks like these are discontinued.
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