An ongoing series looking at the master artisans supporting the automotive industry. For the 15th installment, we speak with a master craftsperson who assembles parts with no deviation from design values.
The joy of working on a dream car
The 35-year-old Tanaka was born in 1988. In junior high school, he threw himself into tennis, going so far as to compete in national tournaments. Ultimately, however, he prioritized his desire to work for Toyota by enrolling in the high school course at the Toyota Technical Skills Academy, which has no tennis club.
Tanaka’s father is likewise an Academy graduate and works on the painting process for Lexus vehicles, also at the Tahara Plant. Despite that, “I certainly wasn’t trying to follow in his footsteps,” says Tanaka with an embarrassed grin.
A Land Cruiser fan since his student days, Tanaka was assigned to the Tahara Plant’s Final Assembly Division upon joining Toyota in April 2007, and found himself on the line that handled body-on-frame models such as the Land Cruiser Prado and Lexus GX.
Tanaka
At school, I dreamed of having a Land Cruiser, but I never thought I would be assembling them as soon as I started working.
As it happened, after joining the company, I saved up and bought my cherished Prado in my second year.
While Tanaka fondly recalls those early days, he has now been engaged in assembling cars like the Land Cruiser Prado and Lexus GX at Toyota for over 15 years.
Throughout that time, Tanaka has consistently worked on drivetrain and undercarriage components such as axles and suspensions.
Having spent his entire career in assembly, Tanaka has a keen sense of the high precision required in assembling a Century.
