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The
22nd Tokyo Motor Show (1977
. 10/28 - 11/7)
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The 22nd Tokyo Motor Show Poster |
- Everybody s Car, Everybody s World -
It became a practice that a main theme was put up for
every Tokyo motorshow to clarify the standpoint of the
automobile in that year. Since "pollution," the main target
of anti-automobile criticism, became rarely heard of,
"Everybody s Car, Everybody s World" was taken up as that
year s main theme.
This was an expression in a familiar language of various
situations surrounding the automobile. Particularly, the
"world" expressed the concept that the automobile was
not for a person alone but rather for the whole society,
and that cooperation with the world s people and harmony
with international society was a vital.
Specifically, Japan s auto industry had grown to be the
world s second in production and first in exports. In
inland transport, automobiles came to have the largest
share of 88.1%, while rail declined to 3.7% and ships
to 8.2%. Thus Japan s auto industry had come to have great
significance from the viewpoint of both the world and
the Japanese economy.
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Japan s 4-wheel vehicle registration exceeded 30 million,
of which 70% were for private use. Driver s license holders
exceeded 35 million, and 90% ofyoung men between 25 and
30 years old possessed a driver s license. Vehicle ownership
was higher in rural areas than in metropolitan areas,
which indicatedlife style involving cars was settling
in the country, rather than in cities. The "vehicle society"
was expanding so much that economic and cultural development
for the future was unthinkable without the work of automobiles.
Thinking about Japanese life by denying or neglecting
the automobile was no longer realistically possible. This
"world" with vehicles was the "world" made by the Japanese,
by their efforts and decision. Based on this reality,
a more enriched society for everybody should be built.
That was the idea behind the theme of the motorshow.
The Theme Hall featured the history of the automobile
after WW II entitled "The Automobile Talks (Japanese Automobiles
during 30 Postwar Years)" That scheme was aimed at reviewing
the development of the Japanese auto industry during the
postwar period of great changes, now that the industry
was at a turning point internally as well as internationally.
The displays were simply enjoyable, without any sophisticated
description of mechanisms or safety educational flavor.
This nostalgic event was popular with the public.
In the hall, 43 three-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles
and 34 motorcycles from the 1945-67 period were displayed
in chronological order. Visitors could follow the displays
of the automobiles which developed from a mere means of
transportation at the time of postwar confusion period
to a sophisticated product meeting versatile needs for
speed and style, as society became affluent and capable
of pursuing comfort and gorgeousness. Technological developments
and accompanying social changes were shown with photographs
and illustrations in addition to actual cars.
Well known cars in retrospect were: the Toyopet Super,
a robust taxi cab; the Datsun Open Sports Model, the first
car to appear after the end of the war; the Fuji Cabin,
a light 3-wheeled car with FRP body; the Tama, an electric
carborn right after the war when gasoline was scarce;
and the Honda Cub that became suddenly popular by the
name "bata-bata." Many visitors rushed into this Hall
with fond memories of those cars and bikes.
One change at the exhibition was that foreign exhibitors
were assigned a separate hall. The oil crisis had created
a worldwide small car boom, and the Japanese cars had
been well received in the world car market, which led
to rapid expansion of exports. This situation seemed to
cause trade friction between Japan and the U.S.A./Europe.
JMIF, taking the initiative on that matter, promoted cooperation
by opening the show to foreign participants. As a result,
foreign participants were from seven countries. Foreign
passenger car exhibits numbered 91, including 35 by the
U.S. Big Three. In the parts section, the U.K. and France
joined Canada, which had already participated in the past
two shows. A much larger space was allocated for the exhibition
of foreign parts.
In honor of the participating countries, seven days excluding
Sunday and a national holiday were celebrated as national
days of those countries. Hoisting their national flags,
presenting flowers to their ambassadors in Japanand other
events for promoting international cooperation were noticeable.
Assembling of foreign cars together in one hall and endeavours
to display the newest models attracted many enthusiasts.
All in all, an appearance as an international show was
assumed.
This type of show, full of international flavour, seemed
to symbolize the standpoint of the Japanese auto industries.
The emphasis on exhibition of foreign cars made at this
motor show was the first experience, and seemed to show
growing latitude of the industry.
Another
feature of the show was a rush of new domestic passenger models.
It was assumed that the auto makers who had met the world s
most stringent emission regulations would hold great appeal
to the public at that show. In fact, those technological displays
were pushed to the corner. The emission control system which
had been the star of the show became a minor post.
As in the case of 75 and 76 regulations, a "pollution control
technological show" scarcely interested the general public.
Therefore, every company had to shift its strategy to pitch
new model passenger cars. After a long interval, there were
a lot of new models displayed, filling the show halls with a
gorgeous atmosphere.
A trend common to the new models was fuel efficiency. Every
manufacturer had made an effort to improve fuel economy by reducing
vehicle weight and wind resistance. To cite an example, the
Daihatsu Charade achieved a fuel economy of 20 km per 1 liter.
Diesel cars that debuted as "fuel economy cars" were the Nissan
Cedric 220DE, the Toyota Crown DE, and the Isuzu Florian DE,
which drew attention from non-Japanese people.
Fuel-saving fever prevailed among the exhibits. Toyota displayed
an experimental car with an all aluminum body under the banner,"Greatest
Work with Least Consumption," while Nissan demonstrated an electric
vehicle developed as a guide car for factories or exhibition
halls. The dominant theme of the show was "fuel saving." The
number of visitors was 992,100.
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