Japan Airlines Flight Attendant Uniforms: Big on the Black Market

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  03.11.10 | 3:23 PM ET

You can probably guess for whom the uniforms hold a “mysterious power.” From the Times:

For decades, the crisp, no-nonsense outfits have appealed to male Japanese tastes. New Japan Airlines (JAL) uniforms have long been in demand in the local sex industry for customers keen on role-playing fantasies, while rare specimens that have actually been worn are hugely sought after by fetishists and are worth their weight in gold.

Countless shops will sell a very credible imitation for a few thousand yen, but the real thing can fetch a fortune. Historically, says Yu Teramoto, the owner of a specialist costumier in the Akihabara district of Tokyo, real JAL outfits have been virtually impossible for buyers to lay their hands on. However, the post-bankruptcy prospect of huge layoffs at JAL—especially among uniform-wearing air-crew—raises the prospect that former staff will attempt to sell their outfits for a profit.

One stolen uniform previously sold for about 11,000 pounds.

Tags: Airworld, Shopping, Travel Fashion, Asia, Japan, News and Briefs


2 Comments for Japan Airlines Flight Attendant Uniforms: Big on the Black Market

Mark Pepper 03.11.10 | 4:48 PM ET

I heard of one recently selling for 15,ooo pounds!

Jeremy 03.12.10 | 3:51 PM ET

Interesting and totally believable!

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