Two or three things about Toyoda Shoichiro.

Lead: Edwin, the author of Galloping the World? Reingold believes that Toyota people are not only producing cars, but also interpreting a culture and spirit. In the office of the former president of Toyota, Fujio-machi, there is a calligraphy banner and a landing globe that says "Heaven and earth know benevolence and righteousness, and go forward bravely". I think this is the culture of Toyota people. As a family inheritor, Toyoda Shoichiro raised this culture to the height of "soul" and infiltrated into the spiritual field of enterprises imperceptibly, showing his wisdom and foresight.

Author | Yan Guangming, Editor | Lei Qian

"The death of Toyoda Shoichiro is a big news in Japan and has a great influence."

A Japanese friend told me that Toyota Zhang Yilang is deeply respected by all walks of life in Japan. He contributed to Toyota's going overseas and becoming a global enterprise, which made Toyota enjoy a high reputation in the world and greatly promoted the economic development of Japan and China.

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In my impression, this is a respectable old man with affinity. I took out a photo with him, and some people were surprised. Did you take a photo with Toyoda Shoichiro?

△ Author and Toyoda Shoichiro

Yes, the F 1 Grand Prix was held in Shanghai in 2004, which coincided with the participation of Toyota F 1 team. This photo is a precious souvenir left at that time.

On the opening day, I was invited as a guest to watch the game in Toyota's box. When the track roared, a white-haired old man stepped into the box and sat in the seat next to me. Everyone present stood up to show their respect. He kindly motioned everyone to sit down and asked the staff to put on the Toyota F 1 team uniform in a hurry. The lady beside him helped him straighten his skirt and collar.

△ Toyoda Shoichiro has the warmth of the East and is humble and low-key.

This scene is impressive. Although retired, he is still the "soul" of Toyota, but he is a director and honorary president. Slightly different from European and American corporate culture, Toyota believes in "elder culture". This has a positive effect on the cohesion and loyalty of enterprises. Therefore, Toyota has never been afraid of pressure or difficulties. Instead, it has become the driving force for development, which is related to the tradition of "warm and friendly, creating a beautiful atmosphere like a family" (Toyota Plan).

For this, Edwin, the author of "Galloping the World"? In an exclusive interview in 2000, Reingold said that "Toyota people" are more important than "Toyota mode of production". This is his observation from the reporter's point of view and the comparison with his working experience in Detroit. Later, I went to Japan 1 1 year and began to observe and study with Toyota at zero distance. He believes that Toyota people are not only producing cars, but also deducing a culture and spirit.

△ Report on Toyoda Shoichiro's trip to Shanghai in 2004

Because of this, I, who is not good at taking photos with people, actually asked Toyoda Shoichiro for a photo. He readily agreed, stood up from his seat and dragged me to the door with good light, leaving this unforgettable moment. This is different from the European and American car bosses I contacted. He is warm, humble and low-key, with an inner charm and bold wisdom.

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I learned that Toyoda Shoichiro came to Shanghai in May 2004 and began to pay attention to his whereabouts. Dong He Nan, then the chief representative of Toyota's Shanghai office, told me that Toyoda Shoichiro's trip to Shanghai (I have made a detailed report, see appendix) was mainly nostalgia. Unexpectedly, he chose "magnetic levitation", didn't take a special bus, didn't go to the hotel first, and went directly to the Toyota store, holding a notebook to ask and record the sales situation. Visiting incognito, no entourage, thorough and meticulous, no doubt. He asked many professional questions to the sales and maintenance staff in the store. Admirable, he was not only familiar with the sales business and service requirements, but also recognized at a glance that the car parked in the maintenance workshop was not made in China and asked where it came from until he found out the ins and outs.

△ Shanghai is the place where Toyota started in the Toyota family.

"I have a relationship with China." Toyoda Shoichiro's nostalgia is related to his family. Dongnan specially found the map where Toyoda Shoichiro's grandfather Akio Toyoda lived, accompanied him to visit the place where his father Toyoda Shoichiro lived, and went to the former sites of Toyota Cotton Mill (formerly Shanghai Guomian No.5 Factory) and Toyota Iron Works (formerly Shanghai Textile No.1 Machinery Factory).

△ Former site of Toyota Iron Works

In the Toyota family, Shanghai is the place where Toyota started. In Shanghai Toyota Textile Memorial Hall (an old building of the former Toyota Iron Works was transformed into a memorial hall), many objects and materials show that "Shanghai is the birthplace of Toyota in China". I once stood on Zhoujiaqiao of Suzhou Creek, overlooking an old chimney with a history of more than 100 years (the old factory building of Toyota Iron Works by Suzhou Creek). This is a relic designed by Toyoda Kiichiro, the father of Toyota, in the 1920s. It is reported that this is a graduation work designed by Toyoda Shoichiro for the power workshop of the iron works.

△ Today, you can also see the chimney designed by Toyoda Kiichiro in Shanghai.

This is a rare cultural relic. It can be said that this is an extremely precious historical witness in the industrial heritage of Suzhou Creek. I was told that most of the factories, docks and warehouses along the Suzhou Creek have been demolished, and there are few left, which are well preserved. Surprisingly, you can also see Akio Toyoda's design works in Shanghai, which proves that "Shanghai Origin" is very important for Toyota's future development (Toyota's corporate philosophy, management ideas and management methods basically come from here). In the autumn of 20 16, I specially went to see the "Toyota Memorial Wall" (made of bricks from Toyota factories all over the world), and one of the bricks from Toyota Textile Factory in Shanghai was placed in the center of the memorial wall, which was particularly conspicuous.

△ Toyota Memorial Wall (made of bricks set up by Toyota all over the world)

Because of this, the "Shanghai Toyota Textile Memorial Hall" is now included in the Shanghai Industrial Heritage List as a cultural relic protection. Since its completion in 2008, it has become the "spiritual home" of Toyota Group and related enterprises, with an endless stream of visitors every year. I think this is in line with the demands of Toyota culture, that is, "respect Buddha and live with gratitude."

△ On the Toyota Memorial Wall, a brick of Shanghai Toyota Textile Factory is placed in the center of the memorial wall.

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Go to Fengning twice and participate in Toyota's tree planting activities there. In Fengning, I heard many stories praising Toyota for coming here to control sand. This situation lasted for more than 20 years, and it took a long time to turn the desert into an oasis. I am curious that this kind of charity is not as simple as sponsorship and public welfare, but a huge project that requires long-term investment and no return. To my great admiration, this decision was made by Toyoda Shoichiro. His decision was made because he saw a report that "the land desertification in Fengning County, which is only 180 kilometers away from Beijing, is very serious and the ecological environment has begun to deteriorate".

△ The decision of Fengning Sand Control and Tree Planting Project was made by Toyoda Shoichiro.

Toyoda Shoichiro's keenness and concern were consistent with the thinking of Beijing's high-level officials at that time, controlling sandstorms, building green barriers, reducing smog, and returning Beijing to a blue sky. In Toyota's corporate philosophy, "for the sake of all mankind, we should take dedication as the concept and keep making progress, and Sino-Japanese friendship will naturally be available." (Akio Toyoda). Today, Toyota advocates "happy car" and puts forward the slogan of "mass production happiness", and its source comes from this.

△ "Heaven and earth know benevolence and go forward bravely" is a sentence often said by Akio Toyoda.

Employees of Toyota China told me that this matter is very important within Toyota, and a biological greening division has been set up. They believe that automobile emission pollution involves the earth's environment, and enterprises should first participate in environmental protection actions. On the other hand, Toyoda Shoichiro sees further and has a bigger pattern, and thinks it is the duty to be a good corporate citizen. At a deeper level, this is also the spiritual platform of "Toyota people". Nowadays, going to Fengning for tree planting, sand control and greening has become the practice of "Toyota people", and the number of people who sign up for voluntary tree planting every year is very high, which needs to be screened.

△ Shanghai is the origin of Toyota in China.

This is a phenomenon worth thinking about. A Toyota employee told me that his first job when he joined Toyota was to participate in the sand control and tree planting project in Fengning. He didn't understand it at first, but later he realized that it was "the value of Toyota price" and an important part of the soft power of enterprises. In 2000, I saw a calligraphy banner in the office of former Toyota President Fujio-machi, "Heaven and Earth know benevolence, go forward bravely" (this is a saying often used by Toyoda Shoichiro) and a landing globe, and I immediately understood that this was Toyota culture.

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From the Toyota Textile Memorial Hall in Shanghai to the sand control and tree planting in Fengning, Toyota has been quietly, with little publicity and few people who know it, but they regard it as the "root" and "repair" Dojo of the enterprise, which embodies the core of Toyota's spiritual culture and attracts more "Toyota people's yearning.

(This article was originally written by "He Yan Reading Car" and may not be reproduced without authorization. )

This article comes from the author Yan He of Yi Che Hao, and the copyright belongs to the author. Please contact the author for any form of reprint. The content only represents the author's point of view and has nothing to do with the car reform.