A commemoration ceremony was held on March 1, 2025, celebrating the achievements of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, and Juichi Nakamura, who was instrumental in attracting Toyota plants, as well as honoring child inventors.
Chairman Akio Toyoda gave his thoughts on the contributions the two men made to the automobile industry that shaped Japan’s future.
“All of us here have inherited the dreams of these two men. I believe that heirs must take on new things. Our challenge is to further develop the automobile industry entrusted to us and use it to bring happiness to the people.”
Finally, he told the children from the Toyota Boys and Girls Invention Club, “I hope you will carry on the tradition of creating smiles through monozukuri.” They are budding inventors and three-time winners of the OM (Odyssey of the Mind) World Finals, a competition of imagination and technical ability.
Just like last year, the children had plenty of questions: “How do you resist greed?” “What is monozukuri to you?” “What was your dream when you were in junior high school?” and more. See Chairman Toyoda’s carefully considered answers in the second half of the program.
Before meeting these children who will carry our future, the first half of the program is a report from Rally Mikawa Bay 2025 Supported by AICELLO (Rally Mikawa Bay), the first JRC (Japanese Rally Championship) of the season.
In the Morizo Challenge Cup competition, where young drivers battle to lead the future of motorsports, the number of entry slots for female drivers has expanded from this year.
Yuna Kanematsu, who loves motorsports and dressing in Gothic Lolita fashion, enthused, “This category has few women, and we’ve been in all different classes, so I’m really looking forward to competing on the same playing field.”
Despite all the attention, he placed 2nd overall last year. Excited for a chance to try again is Nao Otake, who received advice from Morizo: “Take a strategic approach to becoming this year’s champion.” Finishing the first day of competition in the lead, he said, “I drove maturely.” What does that mean?
Let’s see the excitement growing since last year and the ever-evolving Rally Mikawa Bay.
