SOICHIRO HONDA

Soichiro Honda, a great Japanese industrialist was born on November 17, 1906 in Yamahigashi, Japan. His father, Gihei Honda, was working as a blacksmith in a little town of Komyo. His mother, Mika, was a weaver. In his childhood young Soichiro Honda used to help his father in repairing bicycles. at age of 15, without any formal education , Soichiro Honda left to Tokyo, 270 kilometers away from his home town, to take an apprenticeship at an automobile repair shop. He opened his own repair shop back in Komyo when he was in early twenties.

Soichiro Honda - Honda Motorcycle History

Soichiro honda had a great goal of making his own piston ring but unfortunately with an major accident in a racing game. After the violent crash soichiro honda gave up his passion for racing and concentrated completely in his business. Soichiro Honda was not happy with repairing business alone. Soichiro Honda worked more restless on his piston ring and finally achieved it. Soichiro Honda ventured into piston ring manufacturing in 1937.

Soichiro Honda tried selling his piston ring idea to Toyota, but Toyota refused to accept Soichiro Honda's plan saying that it doesn't meet their requirements. so Soichiro Honda went back to the Hamamatsu School of Technology and learnt engineering. Soichiro Honda was not interested in anything other than piston ring related studies and he barely concentrated in studies. after two more years of struggle and redesign, he won a contract with Toyota selling his piston ring idea.

In October 1946, Soichiro Honda established the Honda Technical Research Institute in Hamamatsu, Japan, to develop and produce small two cycle motorbike engines. In 1948 Soichiro Honda met another person called Takeo Fujisawa who share the same kind of interest Soichiro Honda did. Takeo Fujisawa agreed to work with Soichiro Honda and together, Fujisawa invested his money and took on the marketing responsibilities and Honda continued on the technological side of the business. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. was established in September 1948, initially to build small capacity motorcycles to get Japanese workers mobile.

In early 1950s, Soichiro Honda started his engine manufacturing . Soichiro Honda's innovative attitude made his company produce class leading engines for Japan's motorcycle industry. The company sold its entire output of engines to Kitagawa to power its motorcycles. Soichiro Honda's plants average production grew up to 100 engines every month. In 1952, Soichiro Honda terminated his partnership with Kitagawa by that time Soichiro Honda's products, was well established in the motorcycle market.

In 1959 Soichiro Honda opened his first dealership in Los Angeles with six employees. By 1963, Honda was the top-selling brand of motorcycles in the United States. Soichiro Honda remained as president , director and finally as a supreme adviser for Honda Motor Co. Ltd until till 1983. He died in 1991 from liver failure. now , Soichiro Honda's Honda Motor Co. Ltd stands as the largest motorcycle manufacturer and the 9th largest automobile manufacturer in the world.

Chronology of Soichiro Honda

In 1906 Soichiro Honda was born in Yamahigashi, Japan
In 1937 Soichiro Honda invented his first piston ring
In 1946 Soichiro Honda established his first technical Research institute
In 1948 Soichiro Honda established the Honda motor company
In 1959 Soichiro Honda opened his first American dealership
1n 1963 Honda was the top selling motorcycle brand
In 1983 Soichiro Honda retired from the chairmanship of Honda Motor Company
In 1991 Soichiro Honda expired of liver failure