This delightful menu cover from the early days of Japan Air Lines (JAL) shows an elderly couple outside a traditional rural Japanese house.

These types of dwellings are collectively known as minka (民家) or ‘house of the people.’ Built mainly during the Edo period (1603-1868), they were once home to peasants, craftsmen and merchants.

Minka are distinguished by their construction in natural local materials such as wood, bamboo, straw and earth.

Their roofs are usually covered with thick thatch and the slope of the roof varies from region to region according to climatic conditions. In areas with heavy rainfall, roofs are steep to facilitate water run-off and in mountain regions they are designed to support the weight of snow.

Interior layouts are simple and characterized by tatami mat flooring and sliding doors. Many minka have wooden engawa verandas.

With the modernization of Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912), minka architecture began to decline in popularity, but their beauty and simplicity were recognized in the 20th century. Many have since been preserved by the Japanese government and designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Open-air museums, such as the Nihon Minka-en near Tokyo, display relocated and reconstructed minka, offering a panorama of regional styles. These important cultural assets have also been turned into traditional inns (ryokan) or restaurants.

JAL, headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo, was established in 1951 as a government-owned business to help the country grow in the aftermath of WWII. The airline was privatized in 1987.

This 1956 menu from a Tokyo to San Francisco flight aboard a Douglas DC-6 describes the airline as ‘Wings of the new Japan.’  The flight would have included stops in Wake Island and Honolulu.

The menu, in wood block print, had a space inside where passengers could write a message to friends or loved ones about their exciting trip, and JAL would mail it on their behalf.