On April 20, 1954, after the industry established a Motor Show Office in Automotive Industrial Association, the first All Japan Motor Show was held at Hibiya Park. H.I.H. Prince Takamatsu attended as patron, and the Association's President Mr. Yasushi Yuge as Chairman of the Show. Since the exhibition was held in the open, passageways turned to muddy roads when it rained and tents were blown down when the wind blew. Still, 254 exhibitors displayed 267 vehicles. It was a success as the largest motor show after the war.

The fact that only 17 of 267 vehicles exhibited at the first motor show were passenger cars reflects the state of the industry at that time. Trucks were the mainstay of the industry. Most exhibits were construction equipment, trucks, buses, three-wheelers and motorcycles. This trend continued until the 5th Motor Show.

Major exhibits in the passenger car area included: Austin A40, Hilman Minxand Renault 4CV, which had just begun domestic production; the purely domestic 6-seater Prince Sedan AISH, already equipped with 4-speed synchronized stick shift; Toyopet Super RH from Toyota; Datsun Passenger Delux (Model DB-5) from Nissan; Sedan and Van from Ohta Motor; and three-wheeled passenger cars from Daihatsu.

The significance of the shows was great. Around 1954, electric washing machines were the only consumer durable that had come into wide use. To the public, automobiles were really beyond reach. Nevertheless, over ten days 547,000 people attended the show. This greatly encouraged the industry as an indication of potential demand, and gave them a bright outlook on the future.