THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY
Japan Airlines is not the only big fish Ito hopes to snare. ANA’s chief executive goes fishing once a month in Tokyo Bay, normally with a group of friends he has known for many years. And, when he retires, he aims to go to Japan’s mountains to fish for trout.
“Fishing is my real interest. I work long hours but every month, during weekends, I go with my friends on a boat for an entire day and I don’t worry about anything. I don’t get big fish. I would like to catch Marlin but that is not easy. I normally get small fish,” Ito says.
“But the best thing about this is that when you are waiting for fish to bite, you don’t have to think about anything and you can just relax. That is a great way to get away from work.”
Ito was appointed to the ANA board in April 2003, becoming president and chief executive in April 2009. He has been with the airline for almost four decades, holding senior positions in a wide variety of business areas.