卒業論文詳細

学科社会学科 ゼミ教員名MATTIAS VAN OMMEN 年度2025年度
タイトル“Omotenashi” and “Emotional labor” in Japanese Airlines: A Comparative Study on ANA and JAL Flight Attendants
内容 This thesis examines how omotenashi and emotional labor influence the experiences and psychological well-being of Japanese flight attendants in two major airlines (ANA and JAL). In recent years , as the number of international visitors to Japan has continued to increase , flight attendants often serve as the first point of contact for travelers , making their role especially significant , as they are expected to perform at a high emotional level to embody Japanese hospitality. This study investigates how flight attendants understand and perform emotional labor , how passengers perceive these efforts , and how airline service culture shapes workers’ emotional demands. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants , including JAL and ANA flight attendants , newly hired employees , and passengers. The interviews reveal that although emotional labor is practiced daily , it is rarely recognized as labor itself. While such labor can cause stress and emotional conflict , positive passenger responses also create a strong sense of fulfillment. Moreover , differences in airline service philosophies influence emotional display rules , which in turn affect stress levels and coping strategies. These results suggest that emotional labor is not only a burden but also a skill that , when properly supported , could enhance job satisfaction and professional development.
講評 This thesis considers emotional labor in the context of Japanese flight attendants’ labor. Like riding an airplane , the journey towards this completed thesis was not always a smooth ride. What I do think helped in smoothening out such turbulence is that the author clearly cares deeply about the topic. While there were some issues in recruiting participants , especially flight attendants themselves , there is still a clear value in what the author ended up doing: interviewing more passengers and recipients of emotional labor. Related , I do wonder if the differences between ANA and JAL that the author points to could be substantiated by more robust data—although I do understand the difficulty in gaining access to such official corporate policy. Despite such remaining question marks , the thesis succeeds in providing an original , balanced take on emotional labor amongst Japanese flight attendants.
キーワード1 omotenashi
キーワード2 emotional labor
キーワード3 flight attendant
キーワード4
キーワード5