Top 9 Japanese Automobile Founders

Kiichiro Toyoda

Introduction:
Kiichiro Toyoda (豊田 喜一郎とよだ きいちろう, Toyoda Kiichirō, June 11, 1894 – March 27, 1952) was a Japanese businessman and the son of Toyoda Loom Works founder Sakichi Toyoda. His decision to change Toyoda’s focus from automatic loom manufacture into automobile manufacturing created what would become Toyota Motor Corporation.

Details:
Born 11 June 1894
Kosai, Shizuoka, Japan
Died 27 March 1952 (aged 57)
Toyota, Aichi, Japan
Known for Founder of Toyota Motor Corporation
Children Shoichiro Toyoda
Tatsuro Toyoda
Parent(s) Sakichi Toyoda

Soichiro Honda

Introduction:
Soichiro Honda (本田 宗一郎, Honda Sōichirō, 17 November 1906 – 5 August 1991) was a Japanese engineer and industrialist.[1] In 1948, he established Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and oversaw its expansion from a wooden shack manufacturing bicycle motors to a multinational automobile and motorcycle manufacturer.

Details:
Born 17 November 1906, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Died 5 August 1991 (aged 84), Tokyo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Engineering
Known for Co-founder of Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Spouse(s) Sachi Honda (1914–2013)
Children Hirotoshi Honda,
Yasuhiro Watanabe
Parent(s) Gihei Honda (Father)
Mika Honda (Mother)

Yoshisuke Aikawa

Introduction:
Yoshisuke Aikawa (or Gisuke Ayukawa) (鮎川 義介, Aikawa Yoshisuke, 6 November 1880 – 13 February 1967) was a Japanese entrepreneur, businessman, and politician, noteworthy as the founder and first president of the Nissan zaibatsu (1931–1945), one of Japan’s most powerful business conglomerates around the time of the Second World War.

Details:
Born November 6, 1880
Yamaguchi, Japan
Died February 13, 1967 (aged 86)
Tokyo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Other names Gisuke Ayukawa
Occupation Entrepreneur, Industrialist
Known for Founder of Nissan

Jujiro Matsuda

Introduction:
Jujiro Matsuda (松田 重次郎, Matsuda Jūjirō, August 8, 1875 – March 27, 1952) was a Japanese industrialist and businessman whose company, Toyo Kogyo, led to the founding of the automobile manufacturer Mazda Motor Corporation, in 1984.

Details:
Born August 6, 1875
Hiroshima, Japan
Died March 27, 1952 (aged 76)
Hiroshima, Japan
Occupation Founder, Mazda Motor Corporation

Chikuhei Nakajima

Introduction:
Jujiro Matsuda (松田 重次郎, Matsuda Jūjirō, August 8, 1875 – March 27, 1952) was Chikuhei Nakajima (中島 知久平, Nakajima Chikuhei, January 1, 1884 – October 29, 1949), was a Japanese naval officer, engineer, and politician, who is most notable for having founded Nakajima Aircraft Company in 1917, a major supplier of airplanes in the Empire of Japan. He also served as a cabinet minister.

Details:
Born January 1, 1884
Nitta District, Gunma, Empire of Japan
Died October 29, 1949 (aged 65)
Mitaka, Tokyo, Allied-occupied Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Industrialist, Politician, Cabinet Minister

Michio Suzuki

Introduction:
Michio Suzuki (鈴木 道雄, Suzuki Michio) was a Japanese businessman and inventor, known primarily for founding the Suzuki Motor Corporation, as well as several innovations in the design of looms.

Details:
Born 18 February 1887
Hogawa, Shizuoka, Empire of Japan
Died 27 October 1982 (aged 95)
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Businessman, inventor
Known for Founder of Suzuki

Iwasaki Yatarō

Introduction:
Yataro Iwasaki (岩崎 弥太郎, Iwasaki Yatarō, 9 January 1835 – 7 February 1885) was a Japanese industrialist and financier known as the founder of Mitsubishi.

Details:
Born January 9, 1835
Aki, Tosa Province, Japan
Died February 7, 1885 (aged 50)
Tokyo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Industrialist
Known for Founder of Mitsubishi

Torakusu Yamaha

Introduction:
Torakusu Yamaha (山葉寅楠, 20 April 1851 – 8 August 1916) was a Japanese businessman and entrepreneur known as the founder of the Yamaha Corporation. Yamaha was the first Japanese manufacturer of the reed organ and established Nippon Gakki Co Ltd in Hamamatsu to produce organs and other musical instruments including pianos and harmonicas. Nippon Gakki was later renamed the Yamaha Corporation in his honor.

Details:
Born 山羽寅楠 (Torakasu Yamaba)
Wakayama, Kii Province, Japan
Died August 8, 1916 (aged 65)
Tokyo, Japan
Nationality Japanese
Occupation Founder and CEO of Nippon Gakki Co Ltd
Years active 1887–1916
Known for Founding of Yamaha Corporation

Kawasaki Shōzō

Introduction:
Kawasaki Shōzō (川崎 正蔵, August 10, 1837 – December 2, 1912) was a Japanese industrialist and shipbuilder.[1] He was the founder of Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Details:
Born August 10, 1837
Daikoku, Satsuma Domain, Japan
Died December 2, 1912 (aged 75)
Japan
Occupation Industrialist, shipbuilder
Title Founder of Kawasaki Heavy Industries