As 2,317 employees took their first step at Toyota, newly appointed President Kenta Kon opened with a message rooted in the company's origin: working for others.
The joy of creating for others
President Kon
To build ever better cars, and to shape the future of mobility. And to carry that forward into the next hundred years. To do that, each and every one of us must continue to grow ourselves.
Let me share, as a word of encouragement, the words of Honorary Chairman Shoichiro Toyoda.
“Creating something new means racking your brains, toiling, and losing yourself in the process. These moments are the ultimate pleasure. There is no greater joy or excitement than seeing someone enjoying or benefiting from a product that you worked hard to make.
That's what drives me to keep learning and striving to create something even better.”
Anxiety means you’re facing it head-on
President Kon
Each of you will now begin your work in your respective roles. Many of you may be feeling anxious. That is completely natural.
Anxiety is a sign that you are taking this seriously. There is no need to pretend to be strong.
At Toyota, there are workplaces that support those who give their all. There are supervisors and senior colleagues who have faced challenges and failures before you. And there are teammates who will encourage and support you.
In that environment, I hope you will continue to learn, work hard, and keep growing—both professionally and personally.
Finally, just one more thing.
I love cars.
And I hope all of you will come to love cars even more.
As he concluded his remarks, Kon suddenly called out, “Vice President Nakajima, please.”
“I want you to love cars.” It was a message he offered as a gift to the new employees.
An engine roar that shook the air
At Kon’s cue, Vice President Hiroki Nakajima stepped toward the GR GT3 on stage and took his seat behind the wheel.
“Are you ready?” Kon asked. Nakajima gave a thumbs-up in response.
The moment the engine roared to life, a deep rumble filled the hall, drawing an involuntary gasp from the new employees. For tens of seconds, the sound—powerful enough to shake the air—seemed to take hold of the entire space.
As Nakajima cut the engine, Kon let the moment linger, as if savoring the fading echo, before turning to the audience.
“This is a new racing car, born from the strong passion of our Master Driver, Morizo,” he said. “Very cool, isn’t it?”
President Kon
You may not remember everything I said today. But I believe you will remember the sound you just heard.
Let’s move forward together. Once again—congratulations and welcome to Toyota.
How will the memory of this day live on in their hearts?
“I never imagined an entrance ceremony filled with the roar of a sports car,” said one new employee, still visibly moved. “It made me truly feel that I had joined a car company.”
“Ever since I saw the Century at the Japan Mobility Show, I’ve dreamed of driving a car like that. But the GT3 is incredible too… I hope that one day I can be part of creating cars like these,” another said, unable to hide their excitement.
With the sound of that engine etched in their minds, the new employees now set out on their journeys—each on their own path—toward building ever-better cars.
Step by step, forward—Kon’s first day as president
The day also marked Kon’s first as president.
After the ceremony, he spoke with reporters, answering each question with sincerity.
President Kon
Before stepping onto the stage, I assumed most of the new employees would be looking at the screen behind me, so I didn’t expect to make much eye contact. But when I stood there, they were all looking straight at me. From what I could see, many of them were probably nervous, but they had such bright, determined expressions. They were looking at me with real focus.
I found that incredibly reassuring. As I met their gaze, I felt a deep sense of responsibility. We, as management, must continue to grow alongside them, so that they can grow here at Toyota.”
Speaking about the company’s future direction, Kon said:
President Kon
Rather than focusing on some distant goal, I believe it is important to focus on what we can do today—to move forward, one day at a time, one step at a time.
At Toyota, everyone is connected to building ever-better cars. Even those who may seem removed from carmaking—such as in HR or accounting—are part of that effort through developing people and strengthening the foundation of our business.
I believe it is essential that all of us renew our shared commitment to building ever-better cars.