Honda Myth

Author: Chen Zaiming
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-01-01
Features: This is a legendary story of the founding of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. by Soichiro Honda, serving as a modern manifesto of corporate expansion and a soul journey of a management master. Every year, Honda (HONDA) takes over the title of the best-selling car in the United States, becoming a "horizontal net" that dominates the American automotive market over Japanese cars. This is an extraordinary corporate miracle. Soichiro Honda's life was spent pursuing his dreams. His "mechanical obsession" is household, and his "technological passion" is widely known. No wonder he named the Honda motorcycles he produced the "D Dreamer," which remains best-selling to this day. It's also no wonder he named the company "Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Technical Research Institute)" ( "Honda Tech"), rather than "Honda Automotive Industry," showing his consistent emphasis on "technology" as life and "dreams" as the ultimate goal. Honda motorcycles have won every title in all international competitions (International TT), and Honda cars have dominated all world racing competitions (World F1, F2), ruling the world and earning international acclaim. This demonstrates Honda's unparalleled engine performance and invincible strength. Beyond that, Honda's low-emission water-cooled CVCC engine was the first to pass the U.S. "Muskie Act" (Clean Air Act) and obtained worldwide patents, becoming a cutting-edge technology imitated by the industry. This further proves Honda's exceptional engine technology. Soichiro Honda's greatness lies not only in his achievements in pursuing technological dreams but also, particularly in his business philosophy and thought, in setting a model of international and universal significance. He led by example, breaking the closed and specialized nature of Japanese enterprises. His spirit of selflessness and freedom equality has nurtured all employees at Honda Tech. At the age of 66, he dedicated his massive enterprise to Japanese society—or indeed, to the world—a pioneering act worth documenting. Soichiro Honda passed away in 1991 at the age of 84. In recent years, numerous books have been published on his philosophy, wisdom, technological innovation, lifestyle, business theory, romantic escapades, memories of him, racing life, and entrepreneurial history, among other topics. Every year, there are more than ten specialized books on Soichiro Honda, appearing like mushrooms after rain. No other successful individual in Japan has been so vividly portrayed and revered, with the exception of Konosuke Matsushita. The references on Soichiro Honda are abundant and vast. In gathering materials, though efforts were made to mention everything and cite every relevant point, due to limited knowledge and insight, omissions are inevitable. It is hoped that this figure—Soichiro Honda—will be recognized and cherished by readers in the 21st century, fulfilling the author's purpose in introducing him.