Yes, pilots generally wear white gloves in Japan, I dont know if it is required, or recommended in their crew policy manuals... It is in Japan, a form of respect to the public, exactly same as employees wearing a tie is a form of respect to the public in the western world.
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I remember, when for overnight in hotels around Narita airport, Tokyo, our crew bus drivers would also load our baggage, and drive the bus to the hotel wearing white gloves as well... and taxi drivers did too. So that is the way they do in Japan.
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I wear gloves too, for taxi and takeoff, approach and landing, the type of leather "bicycle" gloves "without fingers" for hand comfort and because my palms have a tendency to sweat. I do same when I drive my car on long trips. A few colleagues do same... And no, I dont play golf, as some people have asked me.
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In the military, we wore gloves to fly as well...
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I would not qualify for JAL or ANA... my gloves are not white but black.
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Happy contrails