Japan Airlines Reveals Special MYAKU-MYAKU Expo 2025 Livery Design

Japan Airlines is set to introduce a special livery on one of its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners to commemorate the 2025 World Exposition (EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan). The new livery, which features the event’s official character ‘MYAKU-MYAKU,’ will debut on international flights with the widebody aircraft.

The second phase of the series

Japan Airlines is no stranger to launching eye-catching liveries for major events. The Boeing 787 will be the second aircraft to be painted with the special livery for the 2025 World Exposition, which will be held in Yumeshima, Osaka, between April 13 and October 13, 2025. In addition to MYAKU-MYAKU, the livery also features other original elements of EXPO 2025.

Photo: Japan Airlines

The Dreamliner will begin scheduled operations on June 3, 2024. While it is the first widebody to feature the special livery, Osaka-based J-AIR already flies an Embraer 190 with the EXPO 2025 colors. The deployment of the 787 marks the second phase in the series, with the aim of introducing EXPO 2025 to both domestic and international passengers.

The aircraft that will wear the special livery has registration JA823J. According to ch-aviation, it was delivered to Japan Airlines in August 2013. It seats up to 206 passengers, with 176 seats in economy and 30 in business class. The aircraft will serve until August 2025, initially operating on the following routes:

• Tokyo (Haneda): Seoul (Gimpo), Taipei (Songshan), Dalian, Shanghai (Pudong), Ho Chi Minh City
• Tokyo (Narita): Bangkok
• Osaka (Kansai): Bangkok, Taipei (Taoyuan)

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JAL MYAKU-MYAKU JET

The first step of the series involved painting a J-AIR Embraer 190, registration JA252J, with the special MYAKU-MYAKU livery. J-AIR is the regional airline for the Japan Airlines Group, operating flights to several domestic destinations. The E190 entered service with the new livery at the end of November 2023, marking 500 days before EXPO 2025.

By operating the ‘JAL MYAKU-MYAKU JET,’ the Japanese national carrier aims to contribute to the success of the expo and encourage visits to various destinations in Japan. The airline plans to introduce a third livery for domestic flights in the near future. While the vivid color scheme expresses the excitement surrounding the expo, the official character, MYAKU-MYAKU, aims to be loved and familiar around the world.

Photo: EXPO 2025

The character will be used to publicize and foster the momentum of the expo, which will begin in just over 330 days. MYAKU-MYAKU is a mysterious creature born from the unification of cells and water. The red part is the cell, while the blue part represents the water. The character’s shape imitates humans but can change its appearance and forget its original shape. Born in a small spring somewhere in Kansai, MYAKU-MYAKU is a friendly, goofy, and clumsy character with an unknown identity.

Japan Airlines’ Dreamliners

Japan Airlines currently has 55 Boeing 787s in its fleet, comprising 23 787-8s and 22 -9s. A few of its Dreamliners have worn special liveries in the past. In 2018, one of the 787-8s, registration JA841J, featured a special SAMURAI BLUE livery to support the Japanese national soccer team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The project was in collaboration with Adidas Japan.

About a year later, the Japanese carrier revealed the Olympic Torch Relay livery on its 787-8, registration JA837J, ahead of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The aircraft was responsible for transporting the Olympic Torch, in collaboration with All Nippon Airways (ANA), from Greece to Japan. Both JAL and ANA had their logos on the aircraft. Japan Airlines currently has the oneworld livery on a 787-9, registration JA861J.

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