— Japan’s Government Aircraft, July 22, 2018
日本の空を支えた政府専用機747
（2018年7月22日 撮影）
The Boeing 747 approaching for landing was a sight that carried a quiet sense of history.
For more than two decades, this aircraft served as Japan’s government airplane, transporting leaders, missions, and the presence of the nation itself across the sky.
Seen here on July 22, 2018, the iconic silhouette of the 747—its unmistakable hump and four engines—was already becoming a rare sight.
This was not just an arrival.
It was a moment that reminded us an era was drawing to a close.
着陸態勢に入る747政府専用機。
この姿を見られたこと自体が、すでに貴重な記録でした。
After touchdown, the aircraft slowly taxied across the runway, its massive presence impossible to ignore.
The four engines, the tall landing gear, and the sheer scale of the fuselage made it clear that this was no ordinary airplane.
Up close, the Boeing 747 carried a sense of weight—not only in size, but in responsibility.
It was a machine designed not just to fly, but to represent a nation.
Standing in front of the aircraft, the distinctive upper deck of the 747 dominated the view.
This unique shape, once common in the skies, has now become a symbol of a past era in aviation.
For Japan’s government aircraft, it also symbolized stability, reliability, and continuity.
Seeing it from this angle, one could feel both its power and its dignity.
As the aircraft was displayed on the ground, crowds gathered around it.
People of all ages stood quietly, cameras in hand, capturing what they knew was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
This was not just about aviation enthusiasts—it was about shared national memory.
Two Boeing 747 government aircraft, side by side, silently marked the end of an era that would never return.
Near the aircraft, a farewell flag was displayed.
It read:
“747 FINAL
1993–2019
Thank you and Forever”
No further explanation was needed.
For 26 years, the Boeing 747 served Japan faithfully in the skies.
And in these simple words, gratitude and farewell came together as one.
「Thank you and Forever」
この言葉が、747政府専用機のすべてを語っているように感じました。
The Boeing 747 is no longer Japan’s government aircraft, but its legacy remains.
It carried not only people, but trust, responsibility, and the image of Japan itself across the world.
To have witnessed this aircraft in its final years was a privilege.
Thank you, and forever remembered.
