As always, Toyota stood tallest among the usual numerous car brands showing their wares in the ongoing Japan Mobility Show.
The world’s No. 1 carmaker again stunned what could be the biggest crowd ever to attend the 71-year-old motor show by unveiling the new Century, a super luxury vehicle that directly rivals the Rolls Royce.
No less than the chairman of Toyota Motors Corporation himself, Akio Toyoda, did the honors in the historic occasion-surprising even the company’s top executives at the quick turn of events at the famed Big Sight.
‘We never expected Toyoda-san to announce the Century as a totally different entity separate from the Toyota brand,’ said Masando Hashimoto, the president of Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP), expressing the sentiment of his fellow top guns from around the region.
With that, Toyoda has effectively made the Century as the fourth independent company after Toyota, Lexus and Daihatsu under Toyoda’s wings-a revelation that was another game-changer in the global automotive industry.
To thoroughly savor Toyoda-san’s patented out-of-the-box embrace of unorthodox leadership, here’s his speech during the impeccably delightful Century presentation, which drew the loudest cheers ever in the world’s No. 3 motor show.
‘I am Akio Toyoda.
‘Thank you very much for taking the time to be here today.
‘The Century stands at the pinnacle, a car in a class of its own.
‘I believe this car was born carrying Japan on its shoulders.
‘Today, I would like to take a moment to share the Century story in my own words.
”It is not just about making automobiles. With Japanese ideas and skills, we must create an automobile industry for Japan.’
Words of Kiichiro
‘THESE were the words of Kiichiro Toyoda.
‘In the 1930s, a time when Japan was seen as incapable of making cars, what Kiichiro set out to build was not a company called Toyota, but Japan’s automobile industry itself.
‘Together with others who shared his vision, Kiichiro embarked on this challenge.
‘Then in 1938, one year after Toyota was founded, another man joined the effort.
‘The Century’s development was overseen by Kenya Nakamura, Toyota’s first chief engineer.
‘To be like no other.’
‘This spirit guided Nakamura in every aspect of the Century, from its development to production and sales.
That development began in 1963.
‘It was 30 years after Toyota started making cars, and only 18 years after the war.
”How could Toyota, with no tradition or prestige, hope to create a world-class vehicle, the pinnacle of luxury cars?’
‘Such reactions were hardly a surprise.
‘Despite that, Nakamura was not deterred.
”Tradition will naturally follow. Let’s create a new kind of luxury car unlike anything before. The Achilles’ heel of today’s luxury cars is that nothing innovative can be done.’
‘With that, Nakamura boldly pursued fresh ideas and breakthrough technologies.
‘At the same time, he adopted elements of Japanese culture and tradition, including Edo metal engraving on the phoenix emblem and Nishijin-ori brocade for the seat fabric.
‘To create something that was ‘To be like no other,’ Nakamura focused on fusing cutting-edge technology with Japanese culture and tradition.
Car for life
‘FROM that original model, the Century became Shoichiro’s beloved car for life, one he continued to ride in through the second and third generations.
‘And to each new generation of engineers, he continued to offer suggestions for improvement. Whether it was better straight-line stability on the highway or making sure the car could handle a stiff crosswind. Day after day, he continued giving instructions for improvements from the back seat.
‘Shoichiro only went to such lengths for the Century.
‘Why was that?
‘Why did Nakamura take on the challenge of developing the Century-a project many at the time called ‘reckless’?
‘Please allow me to share my own interpretation from here.
‘In their hearts, I believe, lay the same passion that Kiichiro poured into establishing the Automobile Association, just three months after the war’s end.
‘This Automobile Association was the forerunner of the Automobile Business and Culture Association of Japan, which I currently serve as chairman.
‘On forming this association, Kiichiro said,
‘I want to build a democratic, automotive-industrial nation, contributing to Japan’s peaceful rebuilding and to world culture.’
Driving force
‘THESE words have never left me.
‘The mention of ‘Japan’s peaceful rebuilding’ reflects a spirit of contributing to society through industry; a desire to bring back the smiles and peaceful daily lives of the Japanese people, with the automobile industry as a driving force.
‘Meanwhile, ‘contributing to world culture’ means building a better society through mutual understanding and the exchange of cultures between different countries and peoples.
‘What the people of Japan needed at that time, I believe, was a sense of pride in being Japanese.
‘That is why Nakamura worked together with Shoichiro, the son of Kiichiro, and set out to make a car underpinned by Japanese tradition and skills, which they could proudly show on the world stage, a car that could contribute to world peace and cultural exchange.
Not zero
‘I believe the Century was created to fulfill that role.
Today, more than five decades after the birth of that first Century, where does Japan find itself?
‘The ‘Japan as No.1’ era is behind us, and we are now in what has come to be known as ‘the lost 30 years.’
‘Japan as a nation seems to have lost some of its energy and dynamism, along with our presence in the world.
If Kiichiro and Nakamura could see Japan today, what would they say?
‘I suspect they wouldn’t say anything, and instead leap straight into action.
‘When Nakamura saw the postwar media headline, ‘Starting from Zero,’ he said, ‘It’s not zero. It’s true that our facilities were destroyed, and we had no materials or money. But we had the strengths and skills that Japan had built up. That’s why we were able to rebuild.’
‘He said that in anger.
‘Today, Japan has an automotive industry that operates on a global scale.
Monozukuri skills
‘WE possess the monozukuri skills that have sustained the nation.
‘Stunning nature that enchants people around the world.
A rich food culture and a spirit of hospitality.
‘Today, we also have manga and animation, which have become synonymous with Japan.
‘Likewise, in the realms of music and sports, young people continue to share Japan’s charms with the world.
‘I believe now more than ever, we need the Century.
Phoenix emblem
‘THE name is said to represent the hundredth anniversary of the Meiji era, and of the birth of Sakichi Toyoda, the Toyota Group’s founder. For me, it is about creating the next one hundred years.
‘And then there is the Century’s phoenix emblem.
In Japanese mythology, the phoenix only appears when the world is at peace.
”Century’ is more than just the name of a car. It is a heartfelt desire for world peace, and an endeavor to shape the next one hundred years from Japan.
‘That is what the Century means to me.
Personal mission
‘WITH Shoichiro’s passing, I came to see this as my personal mission.
‘Of course, I cannot do it on my own.
‘Thankfully at Toyota, we have many colleagues who carry on the spirit of Kenya Nakamura.
‘Together, we have decided to launch the Century brand.
‘One of One’ or, as Nakamura put it, ‘To be like no other.’
‘Century is not just another brand within Toyota Motor Corporation.
‘We want to cultivate it as a brand that brings the spirit of Japan-the pride of Japan-out into the world.
‘The next Century begins with us.’
PEE STOP
Toyota also underscored in the ongoing Japan Mobility Show its highly-impactful vision to produce the hydrogen-powered vehicle in the near future. When finally unleashed, it will become the world’s first cleanest car, making the environment as healthy as it can be.