Japan Automotive Hall of Fame

Japan Automotive Hall of Fame
Nihon Jidōsha Dendō (日本自動車殿堂)
View of the 2007 JAHFA induction ceremony
Abbreviation: JAHFA
Formation: November 2, 2001; 24 years ago
Type: Nonprofit organization
Purpose: Honoring contributions to Japan's automotive industry
Headquarters: 1-32 Kanda-Jinbōchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan
Chairman: Takahiro Fujimoto
Website: jahfa.jp
2021 JAHFA awards ceremony

The Japan Automotive Hall of Fame (JAHFA; Nihon Jidōsha Dendō (日本自動車殿堂)) is a Japanese non-profit organization founded on November 2, 2001, to honor individuals and vehicles that have made significant contributions to Japan's automotive industry and culture.[1] It is headquartered in Kanda-Jinbōchō, Chiyoda, Tokyo, and operates as a specified nonprofit corporation (特定非営利活動法人) under Japanese law.[2]

The organization's mission focuses on honoring those who have contributed to the development of Japan's automotive industry, academia, and culture, while preserving their achievements for future generations.[3] Its activities include annual induction ceremonies, yearly automotive awards, historic vehicle designations, and educational outreach programs in collaboration with academic institutions across Japan.[4]

Since its inception, JAHFA has inducted over 100 individuals and designated numerous historically significant vehicles. The 24th annual awards ceremony was held in Tokyo in September 2024.[5] The selections often reflect broader trends in the industry, shifting from mechanical engineering and fuel efficiency in the early 2010s to software integration, safety systems, and electrification in the 2020s.

Inductees

Inductees are selected based on contributions to engineering, design, business, motorsport, or automotive culture. The selection committee comprises industry experts, academics, and previous inductees. From 2001 to 2024, JAHFA has honored over 100 individuals across various disciplines within the automotive sector.

2001–2008 Overview

Year Inductee Role/Contribution Lifespan Reference
2001 Kiichiro Toyoda Founder of Toyota 1894–1952 [6]
2001 Soichiro Honda Founder of Honda 1906–1991 [6]
2001 Takeo Fujisawa Business manager at Honda 1910–1988 [6]
2001 Jiro Yanase Automotive importer 1917–2008 [6][7]
2001 Osamu Hirao Engineering scholar 1915–1995 [6]
2001 Shojiro Ishibashi Founder of Bridgestone 1889–1976 [6]
2002 Osamu Suzuki President of Suzuki 1930–2024 [8]
2002 Kazuo Kumabe Vice-president of Toyota 1897–1974 [9]
2002 Junya Toyokawa Founder of Otomo 1886–1965 [9]
2002 Masujiro Hashimoto Founder of Kaishinsha/DAT 1874–1944 [9]
2002 Kunimitsu Takahashi Racing driver 1940–2022 [10]
2003 Tsuneji Matsuda President of Mazda 1895–1970 [11]
2003 Shotaro Kamiya Sales network specialist 1898–1980 [11]
2003 Genshichi Asahara Car technology specialist 1891–1970 [11]
2003 Masaichi Kondo R&D pioneer 1908–1999 [11]
2003 Michihiro Nishida Safety campaigner Born 1923 [11]
2003 Yusuke Kaji Advertising specialist 1931–2016 [11]
2004 Carlos Ghosn President of Nissan Born 1954 [12]
2004 Tadashi Kume President of Honda 1932–2019 [12]
2004 Shozo Maeda Car museum founder Born 1928 [12]
2004 Tatsuo Hasegawa Toyota development engineer 1916–1997 [12]
2004 Mineo Yamamoto Scholar/Doctor of Engineering 1903–1979 [12]
2004 Shinroku Momose Subaru development engineer 1919–1997 [12]
2005 Yasusada Nobumoto Auto-parts specialist 1920–2003 [13]
2005 Yoshio Nakamura Honda development engineer 1918–1994 [13]
2005 Shinichiro Sakurai Nissan development engineer 1929–2011 [13]
2005 Kiyoshi Tomizuka Two-stroke engine specialist 1893–1987 [13]
2005 Heitatsu Igarashi Motoring historian 1924–2000 [13]
2006 Nobuhiko Kawamoto President of Honda 1936–2019 [14]
2006 Hirosuke Furusho Safety specialist Born 1932 [14]
2006 Toshiro Seki Diesel engine specialist 1908–1979 [14]
2006 Atsushi Watari NVH specialist 1917–1983 [14]
2006 Yasusaburo Kobori Airbag pioneer 1899–1975 [14]
2007 Taiichi Ohno Manufacturing specialist 1912–1990 [15]
2007 Kenichi Yamamoto President of Mazda 1922–2017 [15]
2007 Takeshi Nakatsuka R&D pioneer 1926–2016 [15]
2007 Hachiro Ogihara Tooling specialist 1906–1983 [15]
2007 Fujio Uruno Safety specialist 1917–1997 [15]
2007 Kenshichiro Suzuki Car-test magazine publisher 1903–1963 [15]
2008 Yutaka Katayama President of Datsun in America 1909–2015 [16]
2008 Jiro Tanaka Prince engineer 1917–2012 [16]
2008 Seiichi Inagawa First Suzuki kei-car creator Born 1925 [16]
2008 Katsumi Kageyama Professor of engineering 1920–2008 [16]
2008 Michiko Miyasu Safety specialist Born 1929 [16]

Notable Biographies (2001–2008)

Kiichiro Toyoda (1894–1952) Born in 1894, Toyoda graduated from Tokyo Imperial University and joined his family's Toyoda Spinning & Weaving Co. in Aichi Prefecture. In the 1930s, he established a car-building factory where the 'Toyota' brand name was first used. When the automotive division became Toyota Motors, one part of the company retained the Toyoda name (Toyoda Machinery), which produces machine tools. Toyoda died in March 1952.[6]

Soichiro Honda (1906–1991) Honda was born in November 1906 and worked at a car repair firm in Tokyo before establishing his own workshop in 1928. The Honda marque was established in October 1946, starting with motorcycles before moving into automobiles. The brand became synonymous with racing success in both two- and four-wheeled vehicles. Honda died in 1991.[6]

Takeo Fujisawa (1910–1988) Born in 1910, Fujisawa joined Honda in 1949 and managed the business operations of the company, complementing Soichiro Honda's technical expertise. He died in 1988.[6]

Jiro Yanase (1917–2008) Born in Tokyo in 1917, Yanase joined his father's company Yanase Co., Ltd. in 1939. He facilitated the introduction of American and European automobile brands to Japan, providing distribution channels for numerous manufacturers. Yanase was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in North America in 2004, and died in 2008.[6]

Osamu Hirao (1915–1995) Hirao graduated from Tokyo Imperial University in 1939 and became a professor in 1954. He worked to improve all aspects of the motor industry, publishing over 200 theses, and was made a Fellow of SAE in 1977. He died in July 1995.[6]

Shojiro Ishibashi (1889–1976) Born in 1889, Ishibashi (which translates to "Stone Bridge") came from a family of 'tabi' (traditional Japanese socks) manufacturers. The business evolved into working shoes with rubber soles, and the use of rubber expanded into various fields. Bridgestone Tyres was founded in 1931, with the name deriving from the translation of his surname. The company became world-famous. Ishibashi died in 1976.[6]

Osamu Suzuki (1930–2024) Appointed president of Suzuki in 1978 at age 48, he is credited with transforming the company from a loom maker into a global automotive giant. Known for his "Yarimai" ("Let's do it") philosophy and "Gemba" style management, he famously test-drove mini-trucks in rice fields to ensure their utility for farmers. He led the company's aggressive expansion into the Indian market through Maruti Suzuki, and was promoted to chairman in 2000. He died in 2024.[9]

Junya Toyokawa (1886–1965) Toyokawa entered the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1907 but left shortly after. He traveled to the U.S. in 1913 and began researching internal combustion engines upon returning to Japan in 1915. He built two prototype vehicles in 1921, leading to the Otomo car of 1922. Although the Otomo was Japan's first exported car, the marque disappeared after approximately 300 units were built, unable to compete with locally-built Ford and GM products. He died in 1965.[9]

Masujiro Hashimoto (1874–1944) Born in 1874, after graduating from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Hashimoto worked at a steam locomotive factory in the U.S., where he met Henry Leland. Inspired by Leland's work, he established the Kaishinsha Automobile Factory in 1911, which provided the foundation for the Datsun brand. Hashimoto died in 1944.[9]

Taiichi Ohno (1912–1990) Born in February 1912, Ohno graduated from Nagoya Kogyo University and joined Toyoda Spinning and Weaving company. He was transferred to Toyota's car project and established manufacturing techniques including the 'Just In Time' method, still widely used in the motor industry. He improved machinery and brought about quality control practices that established Toyota's reputation for manufacturing excellence. He became Toyota's VP in 1978 and died in 1990.[15]

Kenichi Yamamoto (1922–2017) Often called the "Samurai of Rotary," Yamamoto led the famous "47 Ronin" team of engineers at Mazda who successfully perfected the Wankel rotary engine for mass production when numerous other manufacturers failed. His leadership was crucial in the development of the Mazda 787B, the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991. He was named president of Mazda in 1984 and chairman in 1987, retiring in 1992. He died in 2017.[15]

Yutaka Katayama (1909–2015) Known as "Mr. K," Katayama served as president of Nissan North America and was instrumental in establishing the Datsun brand in the American market. His grassroots marketing approach and support for motorsports helped transform Japanese cars' reputation in North America from economy vehicles to desirable sports cars, particularly through the success of the Datsun 240Z. He died in 2015 at age 105.[16]

Carlos Ghosn (Born 1954) Ghosn made his name with Michelin and became VP at Renault in 1996. He was announced COO of Nissan in June 1999 and became president in 2000. His 'Nissan Revival Plan' helped transform the company's finances from near-bankruptcy to profitability.[a][12]

Complete Inductee List (2009–2024)

Due to limited English-language documentation for inductees from 2009 to 2019, this section provides a comprehensive list based on JAHFA's Japanese yearbooks. Detailed biographies can be added as additional sources become available.

2009:[17]

  • Shoichi Furuhama – Combustion engine researcher
  • Takeshi Saito – Automotive engineer
  • Tomio Kubo – Engineering professor
  • Rin Utsumi – Transportation policy expert
  • Takashi Ohashi – Safety systems pioneer

2010:[18]

  • Juichiro Takada – Engine development specialist
  • Masakazu Iguchi – Quality control expert
  • Isamu Hoshiko – Automotive journalist
  • Shizuo Yagi – Design engineer
  • Sukeo Ota – Manufacturing systems expert

2011:[19]

  • Takashi Suzuki – Racing driver and engineer
  • Shintaro Yoshida – Toyota executive
  • Yoshisuke Aikawa – Nissan founder
  • Koichi Yano – Automotive historian

2012:[20]

  • Genichi Kawakami – Yamaha Motor founder
  • Kazuhiko Mimoto – Honda engineer
  • Teiichi Hara – Nissan engineer
  • Shigeo Shiochi – Manufacturing specialist

2013:[21]

  • Ryuichi Tomiya – Automotive journalist
  • Joji Mizusawa – Safety researcher
  • Shotaro Kobayashi – Automotive writer
  • William Gorham – American automotive consultant in Japan

2014:[22]

  • Narazo Shimazu – Early automotive pioneer
  • Yoji Hamawaki – Mazda engineer
  • Masao Ito – Technical researcher
  • Isao Sasaki – Racing driver

2017:[23]

  • Hideyuki Miyakawa – Engineering professor
  • Shizuo Takashima – Automotive executive
  • Haruo Kimura – Design engineer
  • Takayuki Suzuki – Hino Motors executive

2018:[24]

  • Kihachiro Okura – Transportation entrepreneur
  • Ryoichi Nakagawa – Mitsubishi Motors engineer
  • Yoshio Akiyama – Safety systems pioneer

2019:[25]

  • Jiro Kosugi – Automotive designer
  • Tsuneo Someya – Engineering researcher
  • Yukio Otsuki – Technology development specialist

2020:[26]

  • Namiki Oka – Automotive researcher
  • Toshihiko Hirai – Engineering specialist
  • Shurei Ito – Technology pioneer

2021:[27]

  • Eiji Toyoda – Toyota executive and manufacturing innovator
  • Miki Mori – Legal expert in automotive industry
  • Yasuhisa Nagayama – Engineering specialist
  • Kyuichi Imaki – Business executive

2022:[28]

  • Torao Yamaha – Engine specialist
  • Kenya Nakamura – Automotive engineer
  • Tadashi Masuda – Manufacturing expert
  • Kenjiro Shinozuka – Rally driver

2023:[29]

  • Shoichiro Toyoda (1925–2023) – Son of founder Kiichiro Toyoda; instrumental in establishing Toyota's global manufacturing footprint
  • Taihei Oguchi – Engineering specialist
  • Shoichi Sano – Automotive researcher
  • Tetsuro Aikawa – Business executive

2024:[5]

  • Fumito Sakai (Born 1924) – Nurtured motoring culture through amateur racing and automotive publication
  • Koichi Shimokawa (Born 1930) – Pioneered automotive industry study and established international network
  • Takeshi Uchiyamada (Born 1946) – Known as the "Father of the Prius"
  • Yasuhiro Daisho (Born 1946) – Advanced automotive engine technology
  • Masahiro Hara (Born 1957) – Inventor of the QR Code system

Historic Car Designations

JAHFA annually designates vehicles of historical significance to Japan's automotive heritage. These selections include pioneering production cars, technological innovations, and vehicles that significantly impacted Japanese automotive culture.

Year Inducted Vehicle Production Year Significance Reference
2003 Mazda Cosmo 1967 Japan's first mass-production rotary engine car [11]
2004 Subaru 360 1958 Pioneering kei-car that democratized automobile ownership [12]
2005 Honda Civic (1st generation) 1972 Revolutionized compact cars with CVCC technology [13]
2006 Toyota Crown (1st generation) 1955 Japan's first luxury sedan [14]
2007 Daihatsu Midget 1957 Iconic three-wheeler commercial vehicle [15]
2008 Suzuki Suzulight 1955 First Japanese mini-car [16]
2009 Honda Super Cub 1958 World's best-selling motor vehicle [17]
2010 Mitsubishi 500 1960 Pioneering compact sedan [18]
2011 Datsun Type 12 1933 Early Japanese production automobile [19]
2012 Toyota Sports 800 1965 Lightweight sports car [20]
2013 Honda N360 1967 Revolutionary kei-car design [21]
2014 Isuzu 117 Coupé 1968 Giugiaro-designed Japanese GT car [22]
2017 Subaru 1000 1966 First Japanese front-engine, front-wheel-drive car [23]
2017 Daihatsu Tsubasa Three-Wheeler 1951 Post-war commercial vehicle [23]
2017 Toyota Land Cruiser 40 Series 1960 Established Toyota's off-road reputation globally [23]
2017 Prince Skyline GT 1964 Sports sedan that evolved into legendary GT-R line [23]
2018 Hino Blue Ribbon BD10 1956 Pioneering underfloor-engine bus [24]
2018 Toyota Corolla (1st generation) 1966 World's best-selling car nameplate [24]
2018 Honda Dream CB750 FOUR 1969 Revolutionary superbike with inline-four engine [24]
2019 Mitsubishi Model A 1917 First series-production automobile in Japan [25]
2019 Isuzu Elf TL151 1959 Pioneering light-duty truck [25]
2019 Yamaha SR400 1978 Iconic single-cylinder motorcycle [25]
2019 Mazda/Eunos Roadster (1st gen) 1989 Revived the affordable sports car segment globally [25]
2020 Toyopet Light Truck SKB 1954 First Japanese commercial light truck [26]
2020 Honda RA272 1965 Honda's first Formula 1 victory car [26]
2020 Suzuki Jimny (LJ10) 1970 First-generation lightweight off-road vehicle [26][30]
2021 Kawasaki Z1/Z2 1972 Legendary superbike that defined Japanese motorcycles [27]
2021 Nissan Be-1 1987 Pioneering retro-styled "Pike car" [27]
2021 Toyota Celsior/Lexus LS400 1989 Established Japanese luxury car credibility [27]
2022 Tsukuba-go 1934 Early Japanese prototype automobile [28]
2022 Nissan Fairlady Z (S30)/Datsun 240Z 1969 Icon of Japanese sports cars globally [28]
2022 Suzuki GSX1100S Katana/GSX750S 1981 Revolutionary motorcycle design [28]
2022 Toyota Prius (1st generation) 1997 World's first mass-production hybrid vehicle [28]
2023 Otomo 1925 Japan's first exported passenger car [29]
2023 Datsun Bluebird (510) 1967 Popularized Japanese cars in the U.S. market; known as the "poor man's BMW" [29]
2023 Mitsubishi Pajero (1st generation) 1982 Pioneering Japanese SUV with multiple Dakar Rally victories [29]
2023 Mazda 787B 1991 First Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans; powered by a 4-rotor Wankel engine [29]
2024 NS 1934 Early Japanese automotive development [5]
2024 Toyota 2000GT 1967 Japan's first supercar; established Japanese performance credentials globally [5]
2024 Suzuki Alto (1st generation) 1979 Popularized kei-cars for mass-market transportation with an aggressive price point [5]
2024 Subaru Legacy (1st generation) 1989 Established Subaru's AWD performance reputation globally [5]

Yearly Awards

JAHFA presents annual awards recognizing outstanding achievements in automotive design, technology, and vehicle development. The awards include Car of the Year, Best Import Car, Best Design, and Best Technology categories. In recent years, the selection criteria have shifted from pure mechanical efficiency to include software integration, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), and electrification strategies.

Awards Summary (2001–2025)

Year Award Category Winner Platform/Code Key Technology/Significance Reference
2001–2002 Car of the Year Honda Fit, Toyota Estima Hybrid Early hybrid technology adoption [6]
Best Design Toyota Camry, Nissan Primera [6]
2002–2003 Car of the Year Mazda Atenza, Honda Accord [9]
Best Design Toyota Ist, Nissan Cube [9]
2003–2004 Car of the Year Mazda RX-8 Last mass-production rotary engine [11]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Touareg [11]
Best Design Toyota Prius, Porsche Cayenne Hybrid design leadership [11]
Best Technology Honda Inspire Advanced VTEC technology [11]
2004–2005 Car of the Year Toyota Crown/Crown Majesta [12]
Best Import Car Maserati Quattroporte [12]
Best Design Toyota Porte, Audi A6 [12]
Best Technology Honda Legend, Volkswagen Golf SH-AWD, DSG transmission [12]
2005–2006 Car of the Year Honda Civic (8th gen) [13]
Best Import Car Peugeot 407 [13]
Best Design BMW 3 Series [13]
Best Technology Lexus GS (GS430) Hybrid luxury sedan [13]
2006–2007 Car of the Year Lexus LS (LS460) [14]
Best Import Car Alfa Romeo Brera [14]
Best Design Mitsubishi i Revolutionary rear-engine kei [14]
Best Technology Audi TT Coupe Aluminum space frame [14]
2007–2008 Car of the Year Honda Fit (2nd gen) [15]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Golf Variant [15]
Best Design Mazda Demio [15]
Best Technology Nissan Skyline Coupe Advanced ATTESA E-TS [15]
2008–2009 Car of the Year Toyota iQ Ultra-compact Ultra-compact packaging [16]
Best Import Car Audi A4/A4 Avant [16]
Best Design Toyota iQ Minimalist urban design [16]
Best Technology Nissan X-Trail 20GT All-Mode 4x4 system [16]
2009–2010 Car of the Year Honda Insight (2nd gen) Global Small Car IMA Hybrid System: Democratization of green technology [17]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Golf [17]
Best Design Toyota Prius (3rd gen) Third-generation hybrid icon [17]
Best Technology Mitsubishi i-MiEV First mass-production EV [17]
2010–2011 Car of the Year Honda Fit Hybrid GE Chassis Center Tank Layout: Packaging engineering masterpiece [18]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Polo [18]
Best Design Honda CR-Z Sports hybrid coupe [18]
Best Technology Subaru Legacy EyeSight ver.2 stereo camera ADAS [18]
2011–2012 Car of the Year Nissan Leaf ZE0 EV Platform: Lithium-ion battery electric vehicle [19]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Passat [19]
Best Design Nissan Leaf EV design pioneer [19]
Best Technology Mazda Demio SkyActiv SkyActiv-G 1.3L engine [19]
2012–2013 Car of the Year Honda N-BOX+ JF1/2 Kei-car revolution with space efficiency [20]
Best Import Car Volkswagen up! [20]
Best Design Volkswagen up! Minimalist urban design [20]
Best Technology Mazda CX-5 KE Chassis SkyActiv-D 2.2: Clean diesel without expensive after-treatment [20]
2013–2014 Car of the Year Honda Fit Hybrid (3rd gen) GK Chassis i-DCD: 7-speed dual-clutch transmission hybrid [21]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Golf [21]
Best Design Volvo V40 [21]
Best Technology Honda Accord Sport Hybrid i-MMD system [21]
2014–2015 Car of the Year Suzuki Hustler MR31S/41S Crossover kei-car innovation [22]
Best Import Car Mercedes-Benz C-Class [22]
Best Design BMW i8 Futuristic plug-in hybrid sports car [22]
Best Technology Mazda Demio DJ Chassis SkyActiv-D 1.5: High-torque clean diesel for compact segment [22]
2015–2016 Car of the Year Mazda Roadster (ND) ND Chassis Lightweight sports car renaissance [31]
Best Import Car Peugeot 308 SW [31]
Best Design Honda S660 Open-top kei sports car [31]
Best Technology Toyota Fuel Cell System Hydrogen fuel cell technology [31]
2016–2017 Car of the Year Toyota Prius (4th gen) TNGA TNGA platform debut [32]
Best Import Car Volkswagen Golf Touran [32]
Best Design Daihatsu Move Canbus Retro-modern kei design [32]
Best Technology Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Hydrogen fuel cell sedan [32]
2017–2018 Car of the Year Honda N-Box (2nd gen) JF3/4 N-Platform: New standards for kei-car safety [23]
Best Import Car Lexus LC500 [23]
Best Design Volvo S90/V90/V90 Cross Country Scandinavian luxury design [23]
Best Technology Nissan Leaf (2nd gen) ZE1 ProPilot and e-Pedal technology [23]
2018–2019 Car of the Year Mazda CX-8 KG Chassis Three-row SUV with SkyActiv [24]
Best Import Car BMW X2 [24]
Best Design Range Rover Velar [24]
Best Technology Toyota Crown (15th gen) TNGA-L Toyota Connected services [24]
2019–2020 Car of the Year Toyota Corolla/Touring TNGA-C TNGA Platform: Double-wishbone rear suspension [25]
Best Import Car Mercedes-Benz A-Class Sedan [25]
Best Design BMW Z4 [25]
Best Technology Nissan Skyline V37 ProPilot 2.0: Hands-off highway driving [25]
2020–2021 Car of the Year Honda Fit (4th gen) GR Chassis e:HEV System: Human-centric design [26]
Best Import Car Peugeot 208/e-208 [26]
Best Design Mazda CX-30 [26]
Best Technology Honda e Urban RWD EV system [26]
2021–2022 Car of the Year Nissan Note Aura CMF-B e-POWER Gen2: Refined series-hybrid [27][33]
Best Import Car Mercedes-Benz EQA [27]
Best Design Honda Vezel (2nd gen) [27]
Best Technology Honda Legend Honda Sensing Elite: Level 3 autonomous driving [27]
2022–2023 Car of the Year Nissan Sakura/Mitsubishi eK Cross EV KEI-EV EV Platform: "Model T of EVs" for Japan [28][34]
Best Import Car Mercedes-Benz EQS [28]
Best Design Toyota Crown (Crossover) Radical flagship redesign [28]
Best Technology Mazda CX-60 Driver support and emergency response [28]
2023–2024 Car of the Year Toyota Prius (5th gen) ZVW60/MXWH60 Dramatic redesign of hybrid icon [29]
Best Import Car Volkswagen ID.4 [29]
Best Design Toyota Prius (5th gen) Bold new design language [29]
Best Technology Subaru Wide-angle monocular camera new-generation EyeSight [29]
2024–2025 Car of the Year Toyota Crown (Sedan, 16th gen) TNGA-L Reimagining traditional sedan flagship [5]
Best Import Car Volvo EX30 [5]
Best Design Toyota Crown (Sport) [5]
Best Technology Mazda MX-30 Rotary-EV e-SKYACTIV R-EV: Rotary engine as range extender [5]

Notes

  1. ^ Ghosn later fled Japan in December 2019 while awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges, escaping in a dramatic departure hidden in a musical instrument case.

References

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  7. ^ Watanabe, Hiroshi (May 20, 2008). "Jiro Yanase, pioneer of automotive imports, dies at 91". Nikkei (in Japanese).
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  30. ^ "スズキの初代「ジムニー」が日本自動車殿堂の歴史遺産車に選定". Car Watch (in Japanese). Impress. November 6, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
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  32. ^ a b c d JAHFA Yearbook 2016 (in Japanese). JAHFA. 2016.
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  34. ^ "Sakura wins Japan Automotive Hall of Fame Car of the Year". Nissan Global. November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 23, 2025.