Inquisitive Young Innovators Inquire About Monozukuri's Significance to Chairman Akio Toyoda
Rally Mikawa Bay, Japan's premier rally championship event, kicked off its second edition on March 1, 2025, promising a more inclusive and competitive landscape. The event, which saw the participation of numerous talented drivers, including Nao Otake and Yuna Kanematsu, showcased the evolution of rallying in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
Nao Otake, a promising participant, finished the first day of competition in the lead, aiming to secure the championship title. Otake, who placed 2nd overall in the Morizo Challenge Cup last year, is excited for another chance to compete in the cup, which forms part of Rally Mikawa Bay.
In a commemoration ceremony held on the opening day, Chairman Akio Toyoda participated and spoke about the contributions of Kiichiro Toyoda, the founder of Toyota Motor Corporation, and Juichi Nakamura, who played a significant role in attracting Toyota plants. Toyota expressed his belief that heirs should take on new challenges to further develop the automobile industry and bring happiness to people.
The Morizo Challenge Cup, named after Akio Toyoda's nickname, Morizo, has seen an increase in the number of entry slots for female drivers this year. Nao Otake received advice from Morizo to take a strategic approach to becoming this year's champion.
The event also saw the involvement of the Toyota Boys and Girls Invention Club, a group of budding inventors who are three-time winners of the OM World Finals. During the ceremony, the children asked questions related to greed, monozukuri (manufacturing with integrity), and Akio Toyoda's dreams during his junior high school years. The second half of the program will feature Chairman Toyoda's carefully considered answers to these questions.
Yuna Kanematsu, another participant in the Morizo Challenge Cup, is looking forward to competing on the same playing field as other drivers. Kanematsu, who loves motorsports and dresses in Gothic Lolita fashion, is a testament to the event's growing inclusiveness.
Rally Mikawa Bay's second year reflects a significant growth in both competition and inclusiveness, with rising female driver participation as part of a wider rallying trend in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. This evolution points to greater diversity among competitors and an expanding profile for the event itself.
Nao Otake, leading the competition after the first day, aims to secure the championship title in the Morizo Challenge Cup, a part of Rally Mikawa Bay, where technology in rallying vehicles is showcased, providing an exciting blend of sports and innovation. Yuna Kanematsu, dressed in Gothic Lolita fashion, is another participiant, looking forward to competing on the same playing field, symbolizing the growing inclusiveness in sports and the evolving landscape of sports events such as Rally Mikawa Bay.
