The First In The History Of Japan Automobiles

Japan is an interesting country and also the originating place of many automobile brands like Honda and Suzuki. Though many may not be aware that the inventions of the automobile had gone through challenging stages in the history, Japan, on the other hand, encountered those critical years during the emerge of the cars to record it with. Let us check closer to how automobile was born in Japan.

From 1901 to 1917

The importation and sales of steam vehicles by Locomobile Company of America Agency was then focused on the dealership in Japan and took the very first public display of cares in 1901. Then Komanosuke Uchiyama who at that time is 21 years old and working as a dealer in Sorinshokai seconded their effort and successfully made the two automobiles with a gasoline-powered engine. His manager, Shintaro Yoshida decided to bring one car back to the United States which was considered the prime pioneers in the creation of vehicles and it was followed by the crafted bus of Torao Yamaha in 1904. The bus created by Yamaha was capable to carry 10 passengers and the very first domestic steam-engine vehicle in Japan. After that, the Takuri was made in 1907 by Uchiyama. 
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The importation, selling and assembling of Britain-made cars was established in  1914 in Tokyo, Japan by the Kaishinsha Motor Works. The company also produced 7 units of 10 horsepower "Dattago" that was proudly made Kaishinsha Motor Works as the first manufacturing business of automobiles in Japan. In the same year, Mitsubishi Zosen was recorded in the automobile history as the first to mass produced 22 Mitsubishi. Since there was a war going on in Japan with Russia on 1904 to 1905, it just intensified the need for Japan to have a vehicle for the battlefield and that fuels the interest of the military in an automobile. Japan purchase military trucks in France and Germany but under the orders of the Military Agency of Japan, the first military truck was made in Osaka Artillery Factory around the year 1911.

1918 to 1925

In the year 1918, the government of Japan implemented the Military Vehicle Subsidy Law which granted the subsidies to produce vehicles for the public use however, it must switch to military aid in times of chaos and war.  That was the very first policy Japan made for the infant automobile industry that covered the Tokyo Gas & Electric Eng'g Corp., Limited, and Kaishinsha Motor Works and the rest of the 5 startup vehicle business of Japan.

The automobile also made for public-aid after the earthquake on September 1, 1923. Japan urgently import 800 Ford Model chassis and used it in their "Entaro" buses and had served the Japan's transportation system right after the transportation network was made. With the vision that Japan is a good market of automobiles, Ford---an American company, decided to make the Ford Motors Japan in 1925 followed by the activities of sales and assemblies for local in the city of Osaka then came the out of the Chevrolets in the market. It made Japan experience the first modernization in vehicle production while importing the parts from subcontractors to provide rapid buildup for the transportation network.

The Industrialization Stage In Japan (1925 to 1938)

Along with the experimentation and studies of the automobiles in Japan, the rise of the production spread in various transportation vehicles like aircraft and other electric and chemical engines. During the China-Japan war in 1936, the country was being helped by the already 16 automobile companies in transportation by the implementation of the Automobile Manufacturing Industries Act.  The legislative act was to ostensible the stifle monopoly of America in the automobile industry but of course to ensure that the military will always have the supply of vehicle for the military operation. Then on, many more policies were drafted and implemented in the burgeoning industry of cars in Japan that yields the submission of reports to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for the protection of the appropriate policies and after that they revoked the Military Subsidy Law.

In 1932, Isuzu was produced by the Tokyo Gas & Electric Corp., in cooperation with the Dat Automobile Manufacturing and Ishikawajima. They also made the Domestic Automobile Association and that is the very first organization of the automobile business industries. In these companies too manufactured the Hino Motors and Isuzu Motors. From the start of 1925 to 1930, the Kyoritsu Motors operated by the three auto companies in America: GM, Ford, and Crysler made a record of around 19 thousand vehicles in Japan. That was way too much in the manufacturing of automobiles in the country but made the sudden stop due to the legislative act.

The pressure from the Japan government made the three companies cease production in 1939 however, this does not stop the increase of the Japan's control in the automobile and electric industry with the General Mobilization Act in 1938 that forbids the public to own vehicles and use charcoal or other alternatives of electricity. With that, more than 200 thousand trucks and vehicles were supplied to the government authorities and militaries. This gave lots of frustrations to the automobile companies who wanted to produce a high-quality vehicle for the passenger. 

The Resume Of Production

At the fall of 1945, the Pacific fights already ended and leave hefty damage in Japan. Then they desire to continue the manufacturing with the growing need for trucks for freight transfer but the expectation of the rapid production didn't make realization considering the inflation and challenge in the necessary supply of food that workers were granted for food allowance in order to get them back in the track. Because of that, the automobile industry in Japan also began to produce agricultural tools and equipment to help them survive the crisis. However, this does not fully stop the layoff in the automobile workers and with the cut in salary of the workers, major companies suffer long strikes from unions. But by 1945, Nissan and Toyota with the 3 other automobile companies created the "Automobile Industrial Association" and after that more association was created such as the Midget Motor Manufacturers Association and Japan Auto-Body Industries Association as they struggle to rebuild the industry.

With Toyota AA in 1936, then Toyota's release of first gas and an electric car in 1937, in 1946, the "Tama" by Prince Motor Company and formerly called Fuji Precision Industries was able to produce the electric car. It was the primary taxi in Japan until 1950 because after the war the country doesn't have sufficient supply of gas. It can function up to 65 km. and used a lead-acid battery and can run up to 35 km/hr.

1951 to 2010

Because the government sees the value of starting the car industry they had took the initiative call for manufacturers to produce a low-priced car for the public. The Prince Motor begin to manufacture again in 1952, Hino Motors in 1953 with the Nissan in 1966 and Toyota in 1967.

After that, major companies began to release again their first car such as the "Subaru P-1" by the Subaru in 1954, "360cc Suzlite" by Suzuki after a year. The Mitsubishi also introduced the "Mitsubishi 500" and due to the minimal needs of fuel needed to operate it was the cheap and economical car in Japan then it was followed with the "Mazda" and "Toyota 700cc". The satisfaction in looks and fuel-efficiency were meet with the creation of the "Honda S500" by Honda company and because Japan is fond of light materials, they started to shift using lighter parts to reduce the weight. For the streaming competition in automobile production, manufacturers began to look for safety and better riding experience for the public not just the smart inexpensive cost of purchase and exquisite looks.

They began to collaborate with America in car creation and in 1982; Honda Accord was released in the market. This was the first Japan car that is crafted in the United States and then on, Japan automakers became the global quality operation in the automotive industry. The perfection in auto manufacturing forges automakers to craft a more luxurious car. They have to compete for the Europe automakers like Mercedes Benz in this category. Success was made when they out the Acura in 1986, Daihatsu in 1988, Lexus and Infiniti in 1989, Scions in 2003 and many more cars produced until the earthquake impede the operation in Japan on 2011. It was the cut of prices and the great improvement in making made the drastic expansion of the production and sales of automobiles in Japan until it surmounts the peak in success and starts focusing in recycling stage of automobile parts.