1. Introduction
Soichiro Honda (November 17, 1906 - August 5, 1991) was born in Komyo Village, Iwata District, Shizuoka Prefecture (later renamed Tenryu City, now Hamamatsu City Tenryu Area), Japan. He was a renowned Japanese industrialist and a globally recognized entrepreneur. He was the founder of Honda Automobile, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and the HONDA brand.
Soichiro Honda is the second automotive engineer in the world to receive the Holley Medal from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, following Henry Ford.
2. Personal Journey Apprenticeship
Born in 1906 to a blacksmith in Komyo Village, Shizuoka, Honda was the eldest son in the family. After graduating from higher elementary school in 1922, he started working in a car repair shop in Bunkyo District, Tokyo.
Coming from a poor family, young Honda had an unusual fondness for machinery. At the age of 16, against his father's wishes, he became an apprentice in a Tokyo car repair shop. After a six-year apprenticeship, he returned home and opened a car repair shop in Hamamatsu named "Technical Business Association Hamamatsu Branch". But with larger ambitions, Honda closed the successful repair shop to venture into the more creative manufacturing sector.
First Entrepreneurial Endeavor
In 1934, Honda established the "Tokai Seiki Company". By 1937, he served as the general manager of Tokai Precision Industries Co., Ltd. He set up a research institute in Hamamatsu City to study and develop piston devices and in the same year joined the Hamamatsu Advanced Industrial Machinery Science to study metallurgy.
In 1944, Honda successfully developed the "Propeller Automatic Cutting Machine", reducing the time it took to manufacture a propeller from a week to just 15 minutes. This invention earned him 40 technical patents. However, the company went bankrupt in 1945 due to the Tokai Earthquake. Honda sold all his shares in the Tokai Precision Industry to Toyota Automatic Loom Works and announced his departure from the company. He then took a year off to recuperate.
Second Entrepreneurial Venture
In October 1946, Honda set up the "Honda Technical Research Institute" in Hamamatsu, which initially focused on producing textile machinery. Recognizing post-war transportation needs, he developed a new "motorized bicycle" which was well-received. By 1947, Honda developed the 50cc twin-cylinder "A-type Bicycle Motor". This marked the beginning of mass-produced Honda motorcycles. In September 1948, he established Honda Motor Co., Ltd. in Hamamatsu and took on the role of chairman. That same year, he began the research and development of motorcycles.
Establishment of Honda Automobiles
After successfully venturing into motorcycles, Honda began automobile production in 1962. Using the extensive experience and funding from motorcycle operations, Honda quickly achieved success in the automotive sector.
International Recognition
In 1961, Honda established his reputation in the international motorcycle market by defeating the British teams that had long dominated the field. He further cemented Honda's position by succeeding in Formula One racing.
Legacy
Throughout his journey, Honda, a technician turned businessman, exhibited immense passion and creativity. Recognizing his stronger inclination towards technical development rather than business management, he partnered with Takeo Fujisawa. This partnership led to the tremendous growth and global success of Honda.
Passing
On August 5, 1991, Soichiro Honda passed away due to liver dysfunction at Juntendo Hospital in Tokyo. He was 84 years and 8 months old. He was posthumously awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun.
3. Achievements & Honors
In September 1948, Soichiro Honda officially established the "Honda Technical Research Industrial Company".
In 1980, he was awarded the Holley Medal by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, becoming the second recipient after "automobile king" Henry Ford.
In 1989, he became the first Japanese inductee into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Soichiro Honda held 470 inventions and over 150 patents. He established the world-renowned HONDA brand and is acclaimed in the modern industrial world as "the most outstanding and successful mechanical engineering entrepreneur since Henry Ford". He is also regarded as one of the "Four Saints of Japanese Business", alongside Konosuke Matsushita of Matsushita, Akio Morita of Sony, and Kazuo Inamori of Kyocera.
4. Social Evaluation
Soichiro Honda is known as one of the "Four Saints of Japanese Business", along with Konosuke Matsushita of Matsushita, Akio Morita of Sony, and Kazuo Inamori of Kyocera. Honda's persistent drive and innovative spirit allowed him to never consider the word "impossible". He was recognized for his continuous innovation, having created the global brand Honda. He is often referred to as "Japan's Ford".
