Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
With plans that included involving other museums (as in Kumamoto,[2] where a dedicated display was opened in 2004), the Japanese Automotive Hall of Fame (a registered NPO) continues to serve a useful role by informing people of the outstanding achievements made over the years by motor industry pioneers and their successors.
He became a professor in 1954, working to improve all aspects of the motor industry (he had over 200 theses published), and a Fellow of the SAE in 1977.
He has received numerous awards from countries outside Japan where Suzuki has established factories making light vehicles.
Although the Otomo was Japan's first exported car, the marque disappeared after around 300 machines were built, as it was unable to compete with locally-built Ford and GM products.
Born in 1874, Hashimoto went to the States after graduating from the Tokyo Institute of Technology, and worked at a steam locomotive factory.
Inspired by Leland's work, Hashimoto established the Kaishinsha Automobile Factory, which duly provided the building block for the Datsun brand.
He became an important figure within the GHQ advisory panel, and was the first chairman of the Japan Motor Technology Association.
Born in 1908, after studying aeronautics, Kondo applied his knowledge to improve car and motorcycle stability in the post-war years.
He duly became Honda's MD in 1970, and headed the 'Safety Driving' campaign, which in turn led to the foundation of the International Transport Safety Society, bringing in ideas from all over the world to further improve conditions in Japan.
For 40 years, Kaji handled Toyota's advertising campaigns, with his work becoming very influential in promotional circles.
Maeda made his name in bricks, but founded the Motorcar Museum of Japan in November 1978, now hosting around 200,000 visitors a year.
He was quickly assigned to the Navy to research jet engine and turbocharger development, but returned to Nakajima after the war.
Momose was made Executive Chief Engineer in 1968, and he remained close to the industry long after his retirement.
With the closure of the Nakajima Aircraft Co., he moved across to Fuji Sangyo, working on automotive engine design.
After graduating from Yokohama National University, Sakurai joined Prince as a chassis engineer in 1952, and was heavily involved in the development of the first generation Skyline.
After a period of aeronautical research he went to Europe, and on his return to Japan in 1923, became a leading figure in two-stroke technology.
After the war, he moved to the Ohta coachbuilding concern, but established his own design consultancy business in 1950, becoming a freelance writer and photographer at roughly the same time.
He became heavily involved in automotive engine design and development and was an important member of the team that created the legendary CVCC unit.
After several executive positions, he was named Honda's president in 1990, and continues to act as a consultant in his retirement years.
Best known for his work on automotive springs and NVH control, he was heavily involved with JARI and FISITA before his retirement in 1978.
Ohno was born in February 1912, and after graduating from Nagoya Kogyo University, joining the Toyoda Spinning and Weaving company.
He also improved machinery and brought about a number of quality control practices that gave Toyota an unrivaled reputation in the field.
He joined Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) just after the war and became heavily involved in automotive engine design.
In April 1963, he headed the RE development team, dedicated to making the Wankel engine suitable for production, and eventually perfected this beautiful power-unit.
However, when Japan's industry was reorganized following the war, he joined Fuji Sangyo (Subaru) for a short time before establishing the Ogihara Iron Works to create press dies.
An early order from Subaru's bus department started things rolling, before Honda invested in the company.
Born in 1903, Suzuki joined the staff of Motor Fan magazine pre-war, and became its publisher in a post-war revival of the title.
Following the war, after the reorganization of various firms, he became a valued employee at Prince, moving up through the ranks to executive level.
In 1967, she set up a business that brought computer technology into the automotive world to enhance safety, and has since received many awards for her work.
To date, the following vehicles and designs have been singled out for recognition: The information contained in this article is an English translation of the JAHFA yearbooks, printed in Japanese.
