Rock And Roll Domo
Keys Are in the Ignition for Japanese Car Production
On April 18th, the New York Times reported that car production had resumed in Japan. The news is likely to provoke a cheery ring in the ears of more than one car lover — cars from Japan, after all, even Japanese used cars have long been admired in car-friendly places. Just outside of Tokyo, at Honda’s Sayama factory, production is still down from the pre-tsunami rate of 800 to 900 cars a day, but so far a daily output of 400 to 450 cars has been managed.
An enduring reputation for quality has followed Japanese cars around. Japanese used car dealers would gladly fill you in on the wonders that reputation has done for their business. In Honda’s case, that public standing goes back to Soichiro Honda who after stinting as a car repairman in his youth, made his first big splash in 1928 when he opened a local car garage. Then, in addition to holding — for a while — the record for building and driving the fastest car in Japan, Soichiro also developed brilliant piston rings to sell to Toyota and designed an inexpensive, high-quality motorcycle.
But today, there is worry about the long-term availability of Japanese car parts. New car sellers and Japanese used car exporters, too, are paying attention. One car requires about 20,000 to 30,000 individual pieces for assembly, and included among those most devastated by the recent quake and tsunami were Japan’s car parts manufacturers in the country’s Northeast. Like Honda, Toyota has also been announcing its strides in getting the gears moving again along its miles of assembly lines — currently, and although working at half their usual rate, all 17 of Toyota’s factories have opened for business again.
As for Soichiro’s story, before making Honda cars, Soichiro Honda started out selling motorcycles, and for a while, the Honda Motor Company’s advertising slogan was “You Meet the Nicest People on a Honda.” Maybe a Japanese new car doesn’t exactly scream Rock ‘n’ Roll, but it’s certainly more than one 16-year-old kid with a just-signed driving permit who’d shout, “Domo arigato gozaimasu” as he shimmied with delight at the prospect of being handed the keys to a green Civic. Anybody care to know the Civic’s original name? Compound Vortex Controlled Combustion Engine (CVCC). Here’s to hoping not too many new drivers will have to make do with other brands.
Sam Walters is a writer living in Los Angeles. Her writing appears in print and online.
About the Author
Richard A. Manfredi has written about www.batfa.com . Largest online inventory of Japanese used cars and new Japanese cars. Find a Japanese new car or used Japanese car at a low price from leading Japanese used car exporters.
Rock n Roll Domo Review [HD]
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