Chairman Akio Toyoda gives a special class to high school students. "What do you wish you had done in high school?" "How do you deal with a crisis when faced with one?" Find out how Professor "Aki-chan" handles these questions from earnest youths.
This time, Toyota Times News features a special class for high school students by Chairman Akio Toyoda.
The stage for his class was FC Imabari High School, which opened in April 2024 in Ehime Prefecture. The school is known for its school principal, Takeshi “Oka-chan” Okada, former Japanese national men’s soccer team coach.
The school aims to nurture a new generation of leaders and has a varied curriculum, which includes guest lectures from many different industry professionals.
A certain YouTube video led to “Aki-chan’s” guest lecture. Mr. Okada’s approach to education resonated deeply with the chairman who even said, “Toyota will take all your graduates.”
That encounter was the start of the special class featured in today’s video.
“What do you wish you had done during high school?”
“How do you deal with a crisis when faced with one?”
“Tell me about people who inspired you to change.”
Teacher Aki-chan answers the barrage of questions with sincerity.
After the lecture, the class went out into the schoolyard where the students had a chance to ride in a rally car. In response to student requests, teacher Aki-chan offered a special opportunity to sit in the Century he rode to the school. All the teenagers smiled in excitement at this up-close experience of enjoying cars!
Aki-chan reflected on his time interacting with the bright-eyed students, saying with a smile, “It was a very short time, but they really energized me.”
Whenever he talks about the future, Chairman Toyoda never fails to mention the children who will build that future. Don’t miss the message he directly delivers as a teacher.