Unveiling Toyota's Leadership: An Unmatched Cohort of Auto Enthusiasts - Part 1
In a unique twist, Toyota Times is shining a light on the personalities of its executive team over a two-week period. The first instalment of this series has already revealed some intriguing insights into the lives of these influential figures, beyond their professional roles.
The focus has been on memorable car moments and favourite dining spots, with President Koji Sato taking centre stage. Sato, who is known for his passion for cars, has compared a delicacy to the Lexus of the mame daifuku world. He also displayed his own car at a recent event, encouraging other executives to do the same.
Sato's fondness for mame daifuku extends beyond cars, and his preferred dish is served in a relaxing space. During the programme, he, along with Vice Presidents Hiroki Nakajima and Yoichi Miyazaki, will be sharing their experiences and preferences during outings, as well as their recommended dishes.
Nakajima, for instance, has a penchant for a "holy trinity" at his chosen restaurant, which is a common sight in Japanese cities. Meanwhile, Miyazaki has a favourite teppan menu item that he's eager to share.
The programme also introduces key figures such as Toyota's North America Region Chief Executive Officer Tetsuo Ogawa, China Region Chief Executive Officer Tatsuro Ueda, External & Public Affairs Group Chief Officer Jun Nagata, Vehicle Development Center (Design Field) Senior General Manager Simon Humphries, and Toyota Compact Car Company President Kazuaki Shingo.
However, as of August 2025, publicly available information does not provide details about the favourite eateries or recommended dishes of these executives. Our reporter, Yuta Tomikawa, is currently visiting the restaurants favoured by Toyota's top executives, and we look forward to sharing these discoveries with you in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more insights into the lives and preferences of Toyota's executive team!
In the Toyota Times series, it's revealed that Vice Presidents Hiroki Nakajima and Yoichi Miyazaki enjoy expensive dining and have specific favorites, such as a "holy trinity" dish at Nakajima's preferred restaurant or a favorite teppan menu item by Miyazaki.
Outside of cars, the preferences of other executives like Tetsuo Ogawa, Tatsuro Ueda, Jun Nagata, Simon Humphries, and Kazuaki Shingo include entertainment such as dining out, and more details about their favorite eateries and recommended dishes are soon to be discovered by reporter Yuta Tomikawa.
