Honda Origins retraces the life of company founder Soichiro Honda through an animated series combining Japanese-style manga cartoon drawings, audio and historic photographs. The audio-visual journey from the beginnings of Honda through to its achievements and legacy.
Seasons & Episode
Part 03 details the challenges faced by Honda and Fujisawa during the tumultuous year of 1954. Japan was in a recession, and it was at that exact time that several of Honda’s products were facing quality issues and bad press. With bill collectors knocking on their doors, both Honda and Fujisawa handled the problem in their own respective ways. However, it was also at this time that the two set their sights on the Isle of Man TT, the toughest motorcycle race in the world. Honda entered its first bike at the Grand Prix race in 1959, and by 1961, took home the checkered flag, establishing Honda as a name to be reckoned with on the world stage.
With Honda having taken some confident steps overseas, North America was the next big market. American Honda was established and the Super Cub became Honda’s first big hit in the US. Surprisingly, the segment doesn’t dwell too much on what make the Super Cub a success. Instead, it ends on the Super Cub’s fade from popularity and the shift towards sportier bikes.
The final episode functions as an epilogue, taking place after Soichro Honda’s retirement in 1973. From there, he went on a thank you tour to factories, dealerships, and service centers around Japan and the world that lasted three years. Honda-san visits the US factory in Ohio, and reminisces about just how far he’s come.