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OPENING CEREMONY:
ASIA'S FIRST COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW
- FETED BY POLITICAL, GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS LEADERS - |
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The Opening Ceremony for the 34th Tokyo Motor Show
- Commercial Vehicles - began at 2:30 p.m. on the
October 31st. The show, the last of the century, is
organised by JAPAN MOTOR INDUSTRIAL FEDERATION INC.
(JMIF) The Opening Ceremony took place in the second
floor Convention Hall of the International Conference
Hall at Makuhari Messe. T.I.H. Prince and Princess
Tomohito of Mikasa, the patron of the show, were in
attendance for this gala event.
The ceremony was held prior to
the opening of the show to general public on November
1. Some 600 people were in attendance, including the
Governor of Chiba Prefecture and many political, government
and business leaders. Executive Managing Director
Takeo Ishikawa welcomed the audience, followed by
the raising of the flag and remarks by Chairman Hiroshi
Okuda on behalf of the organizer. Chairman Okuda told
the audience, "This is the first comprehensive, international
commercial vehicle show ever to be held in Asia. Our
theme is 'Vehicles of Character Across the World,
Building our Future' and I am confident that you will
enjoy the exhibits. Our exhibitors are constantly
striving to improve their products and make them more
environment-friendly. I urge you to experience and
enjoy the new commercial vehicles of the twenty-first
century." He was followed by Mr. Goji Sakamoto, Senior
State Secretary of International Trade and Industry,
Mr. Hajime Morita, Minister of Transport, and Mr.
Takeshi Numata Governor of Chiba Prefecture. After
the remarks from these dignitaries, Vice Chairman
Yoshihide Munekuni declared the show officially open
H.I.H Pricess Tomohito of Mikasa cut the ribbon. The
Opening Ceremony concluded at 3:00.
T.H.I. prince and princess Tomohito of Mikasa were
guided by Chairman Okuda on a one-hour and 10 minute
tour of the show. They had many questions for the
exhibitors and remarked that "this is just as
interesting as the passenger car show." T.H.I.
prince and princess Tomohito of Mikasa appeared particularly
interested in vehicles for the disabled.
The Opening Reception began at 4:40 in the second
floor Convention Hall of the International Conference
Hall. T.H.I. prince and princess Tomohito of Mikasa
were in attendance, with approximately 900 guests
being present. Vice Chairman Munekuni led the assembly
in a toast of "Kampai !, and the reception ended at
6:00.
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T.H.I. prince and princess
Tomohito of Mikasa tour the show
Chairman Okuda addresses
the Opening Ceremony.
Vice Chairman Munekuni leads
the toast at the Reception.
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The evolution of Commercial
Vehicles in the 21st Century:
Environment, ITS, Technologies for the disabled come to Fruition
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This is the first commercial vehicle
show ever to be held in Asia, and perhaps that is one
reason it has become a worldclass event with the participation
of 129 companies, two governments and two organizations
from 7 countries. The hall features exhibits from 13
commercial vehicle makers, including Toyota's first-ever
group exhibit, a joint exhibit from 26 body companies,
90 parts companies, and one electric vehicle organization.
It is a stunning sight to wander through the booths,
and while this is a business-oriented show, there is
much here to excite the ordinary driver as well.
The highlight, of course, is the full
lineup of 261 state-of-the-art vehicles, everything
from light trucks to the heavy-duty trucks and buses,
with a wide selection of commercial, recreational vehicles
and those for the disabled too. More than 30% of the
vehicles at the show are "reference exhibits" that are
scheduled for commercial launch soon. Many of these
exhibits suggest new modes for commercial vehicles,
designs that bring them out of the realm of pure business
and closer to personal life. The emphasis is on "interesting
vehicles" that are as suited to play as they are at
work.
Three themes run through the exhibits:
environment, ITS and welfare. Obviously, hybrid vehicles
are the stars in the environment exhibits, but the show
features a wide range of other new technologies, including
natural-gas vehicles and diesel partionlate removal
equipment. ITS enconpasses a wide range of technologies
including advanced safety vehicles and the nextgeneration's
driving support system. In technologies for the disabled,
the show has many "nursing care vehicles" and vehicles
designed for easy loading and unloading of wheelchairs.
SUVs and minivans account for approximately 15% of the
vehicles on exhibit, a sure attraction for ordinary
drivers.
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The first group exhibit reduced clutter
in the East Hall.
The Parts Corner featured ITS technology.
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Driven to Makuhari
- The PRESS CENTER - |
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Computers, faxes,
phones. The Press Center is wired to the world, and
foreign journalists make up part of the contingent.
This is both the
final motor show to be held in Tokyo in the 20th century
and the starting point for the 21st. You can see the
excitement in the booths as well, where the 21st century
is very much on people's minds. In the Press Center,
journalists are full of enthusiasm and adrenaline.
Their fingers strike powerfully at their computer
keyboards. As time goes on, the voices on the phone
become louder and louder. The Press Center, the communications
hub of the Tokyo Motor Show, transmits hot news to
the world day and night.
Press briefings
have become an annual event on Press Day. Booths are
filled with eager reporters; in some cases, it is
standing room only. Toyota attracted particular attention.
Its group is holding its first-ever joint exhibition
at the Motor Show. Toyota President Fujio Cho, Hino
Motor President Hiroshi Yuasa, and Daihatsu President
Takaya Yamada were all in attendance, and managed
to come together for a photo opportunity. Even more
surprising was Nissan Motor's President Carlos Ghosn,
who wowed the reporters with his fluent Japanese.
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