At the Tokyo Motor Show, manufacturer executives held a talk show.

The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) held a press event, "Mobilityscape Tokyo 2015," at the Tokyo Big Sight venue on October 29, the first day of the Tokyo Motor Show. This talk session featuring JAMA's five chairmen and vice-chairmen, aimed at domestic and international media, has been held since the previous motor show (2013) to encourage a deeper understanding not only of the motor show but also of Japan's automotive industry.

Taking the stage were Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Chairman Fumihiko Ike, who also serves as JAMA Chairman, alongside four Vice Chairmen: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Chief Communications Officer Hiroto Saikawa, Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation President Tetsuro Aikawa, and Mazda Motor Corporation President Masamichi Kogai. Freelance announcer Junko Kubo served as facilitator.

Opening the event, Chairman Ike stated, "While automobiles make our lives comfortable and enriching, they also face challenges regarding environmental impact and safety. The technologies introduced by each manufacturer at the motor show—such as energy management, ICT, and autonomous driving—hold promise as solutions to these issues. Today, I hope you will hear directly from each company about how they aim to elevate 'Japanese manufacturing.'"

■ Japan's Strengths

The talk began with each company sharing the history and roots of their automotive manufacturing. Beyond the commonality that most companies were not automobile manufacturers at their founding but produced various industrial goods, anecdotes illustrating connections between companies were shared. Examples included Honda manufacturing piston rings for Toyota and Mitsubishi handling sales of Mazda's three-wheeled trucks.

Regarding "Japan's strengths in manufacturing," topics discussed included: "a hybrid of technology and craftsmanship," "a philosophy that considers society beyond just profit pursuit," and "open communication between engineers and production sites."

Questions were accepted from attendees via Twitter. In response to a query about "how they view the balance between cooperation and competition," Chairman Ike stated, "Competition in technological development is important, but automobiles are already part of social infrastructure. To address and contribute to societal challenges, manufacturers should cooperate. I believe communication within Japan's automotive industry is good." President Toyoda also commented, "We want to be good corporate citizens and will continue striving to be so."

■ Future Mobility

Regarding "Japan's competitive edge in future mobility," President Kogai stated, "While autonomous driving technology is a focus, efforts to coexist with the joy of driving are also necessary." He also remarked, "Autonomous driving and driverless driving are different things," and "As the expression 'beloved car' exists in Japan, we won't abandon our commitment as automakers to ensure cars remain cherished for the next 100 years." Regarding EVs (electric vehicles) , President Aikawa stated, "EVs hold value both when driving and when stationary. They can serve as storage batteries for household power, becoming an integral part of daily life." On" Future Fuels and Engines," CCO Nishikawa remarked, "Electrification is unavoidable, but simultaneously, further advancing internal combustion engine technology is crucial."

Chairman Ike concluded, "I believe seeing the many cutting-edge technologies at the motor show will truly demonstrate to visitors that Japanese companies are genuinely thinking about the planet."

Tokyo Motor Show Official Website: http://www.tokyo-motorshow.com/