As a pioneering foreign car dealer, Mr. Jiro Yanase paved the way for the vehicle import business in Japan, nurturing the market, and making a huge contribution in seeding and nourishing the cultural value of automobiles in our society. In recognition of these great achievements, the Japan Automotive Hall of Fame is honored to induct Mr. Jiro Yanase into the Hall of Fame.

Yanase in front of his company’s head office in Tokyo.

Yanase writing his motto.

Cars outside the Mitsui Trading building, where Yanase learnt his trade.

Chotaro Yanase (Jiro’s father) in his Mitsui Trading Company days.

Family gathering prior to Chotaro Yanase’s research trip to Europe, 1923. Jiro is next to his father facing left.

Yanase’s first imported car – a 1915 Buick.

Unloading a Buick chassis at the head office in Shibaura, Tokyo. Yanase added the body later.

Newspaper advertising for the Yanase dealership.

Jiro Yanase in front of a Mercedes-Benz in 1952.

The Yanase dealership in the early part of the 1950s.

The first Mercedes model imported was this 170V model of 1952.

A Cadillac delivered to the Japanese royal family.

Volkswagen approached Yanase to handle VW imports in 1952.

Yanase handled Volvo imports from 1960 to 1974.

Yanase visiting Shigeru Yoshida former PM at his Oiso residence.

Yanase was inducted into the AHF in Detroit in 2004.