What's up Aichi

Issue 10, November/December 2007 Is a Publication of the Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office What’s Up Aichi －Timely Tourist Information On Aichi Prefecture And The Surrounding Central Japan Region－ Let Loose Your Creative Side this Fall at (traditional Japanese fans made from Exploring the Car Kingdom Obara’s Washi Village washi). Washisuki lessons, conducted by expert papermakers, cost approximately You may already know that Aichi has Autumn is all about color, and while you 10 to 20 dollars. earned itself the nickname of “Car may be content with passively taking in the Kingdom” for being home to Toyota and many hues that Mother Nature has kindly The Washi-no-Furusato Art and Craft the center of production for other major provided, you may just as easily find Center is open from Tuesday through automobile-related manufacturers. But did yourself inspired to create something Sunday from 9:00 to 4:30 and reservations you know about the array of opportunities colorful of your own to celebrate the are required for groups of 10 or more for visitors to the prefecture to explore the season. A day spent crafting original works (0565-65-2953). fascinating world of car manufacturing and of traditional Japanese paper, or washi, history? could be the perfect outlet for your Four-Season Cherry Blossom Trees creativity, and there could not be a more Bloom Throughout November in Obara Toyota Automobile Museum ideal place to try your hand at the craft than the Aichi village of Obara. While you wait for your washi to dry, amble The Toyota Automobile Museum, in the through the gardens in the surrounding Toyota City suburb of Nagakute, is a car Obara, now a part of Toyota City, began town. Here you’ll find over 6000 rare enthusiast’s dream, and patrons who are producing washi in the Muromachi era four-season cherry blossom trees not car buffs are almost certain to become (1336-1573). The area’s climate is ideal for (shikizakura), which are best appreciated one—if only for a day—soon after walking growing the paper mulberry tree whose from late October to early December. through the museum’s doors. The passion tough bark is used to produce the pulp. In for automobiles here is contagious, and the early 1900s, Obara’s sturdy paper was with over 150 cars on permanent display the key component of traditional parasols, and 60 more on rotation for special and later the creation of the paper itself exhibitions, a visit to the museum is well would gain wide esteem. worth the roughly half-hour trip from central Nagoya. Today, visitors to Obara’s Washi-no-Furusato Gallery can view the best works by Tatsukichi Fujii, the pioneer papermaker who elevated washi to an art form, and other well-known artists who continued in Fujii’s tradition. There is also a chance to try to emulate the washi A rare blend of cherry blossoms and fall foliage greats at the nearby Washi-no-Furusato make Obara a premier destination in November Art and Craft Center. Ideally viewed from a slight distance, the soft pink cherry trees stand out in stark contrast to the bright oranges, yellows and Classic cars bring history to life in Nagakute reds of the surrounding foliage, making for a unique autumn spectacle that cannot be From Leonardo da Vinci’s conceptual experienced during the spring’s better design of a self-propelled cart all the way known cherry blossom viewing season. to the Prius hybrid, the museum takes visitors on a fascinating journey through During Obara’s Shikizakura Festival, automobile history. The History Zone taking place throughout November, tourists features classics from around the world, Expert papermakers instruct visitors to Obara’s can enjoy seasonal food, musical including a 1929 Ford Model A and a Washi-no-Furusato Art and Craft Center performances and games at prime viewing 1931 Chevrolet Phaeton built at the spots and take a scenic hike along American car companies’ first factories in The papermaking experience takes two to shikizakura-lined trails that meander Japan. The displays may be your only three hours from start to finish depending through the town’s most attractive sites. chance to see the motoring masterpieces on the type of paper being made, and complete with steering wheels placed on patrons can create their choice of jisuki Visitors can board the Meitetsu bus the right side of the vehicle. A Locomobile (Japanese character washi), hasuki (dried Fujioka line from Toyota City Meitetsu train Steam Car from 1899 and several replicas flowers or leaves infixed in washi paper), station, ride to the last stop and transfer to of other models from the earliest days of esuki (picture washi) and uchiwa the Obara bus line to Washi-no-Furusato. the automobile are also on display. The museum’s second floor features Toyota is working to achieve its vision of Toyoda’s invention of a loom that legendary American and European an accident- and congestion-free world at revolutionized the textile industry. automobiles including early Cadillacs, a the Intelligent Safety exhibit. Visitors with 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom and Franklin a need for speed should beeline to the Visitors to the automobile pavilion’s Roosevelt’s beloved Packard Twelve. Motorsports exhibit, where they’ll come Automobile Mechanisms and face to bumper with Toyota’s F1 and Component Parts exhibit will understand Japan’s vintage vehicles are featured on NASCAR racing vehicles. And letting the the workings of today’s cars through the third floor. Visitors who are only little ones try their hand at auto assembly hands-on cross-cut models. The Material familiar with later models that became in the children’s section certainly beats Testing Center and Prototyping Plant popular in the US only in the last 30 years turning them loose on the family car! section of the museum highlights some of or so will enjoy the chance to compare the early innovations in production that Toyota’s earliest cars with their would lead to Toyota’s global success, and contemporaries from our side of the Pacific. in the Breakthrough Production Toyota’s first passenger car, the 1936 Technology exhibit, visitors encounter the Toyota AA and the popular Toyopet complex heavy machinery that has models of the fifties offer a peek into the become so essential to the auto early days of the automotive giant, and the manufacturing process. straightforward lines on other favorites, such as the Datsun Model 112 and the For more, visit the museum’s website: http://www.tcmit.org/english Subaru 360 recall a lost, more simple era, making them as appealing as the stylized sports cars and grand prix speedsters. Nagoya Motor Show November 22nd to 25th Take the Higashiyama subway to Fujigaoka station and transfer to the Car buffs rolling into Nagoya in late Linimo to Geidai-dori mae station. November will have a chance to gawk at the latest vehicles as the world’s Toyota Exhibition Hall and Plant Tours automakers gather for the Nagoya Motor th Show, being held for the 15 time this year at Nagoya Messe. Ultramodern All of those classic cars at the Toyota Toyota’s modern plant is doubly impressive Automobile Museum are sure to pique when compared to its earliest facility concept cars are the stars of the show, your curiosity about just how the which will be Nagoya’s biggest ever with a ubiquitous machines are built, so be sure On the Toyota plant tour, which departs quarter-million visitors anticipated and to allow a half day for the Toyota from the Exhibition Hall, you’ll get a over 300 vehicles on display. Exhibition Hall and plant tour. behind-the-scenes look at the factory line that turns thousands of complex components into the efficient people-movers that so many of us rely on. The fluid interaction of robots and plant workers is an astounding sight, and you’re sure to be amazed by the sheer size of the entire operation. Keep in mind that tours must be booked in advance. Instructions for registering your The latest efforts to win the hearts of car lovers group as well as the plant’s operating on display at the Nagoya Motor Show dates can be found on the English website (http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/about_toyota/fa Take the Meiko subway line to the last stop cility/toyota_kaikan/). (Nagoya Port station) for a short walk to Port Messe Nagoya. Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry and Technology The i-unit is one of the many fascinating displays at the Toyota Exhibition Hall Aichi Prefectural Government The Toyota Commemorative Museum of San Francisco Office Industry and Technology, in downtown c/o JETRO San Francisco At the Exhibition Hall, you’ll gain an Nagoya, profiles the history of the 235 Pine Street Suite 1700 understanding of the technology that is automaker within the context of the San Francisco CA 94104 integral to the automaker’s product line region’s rich manufacturing tradition. Phone: 415-392-1333 ex 252 while getting a healthy dose of good Through its 4000 exhibition pieces, the Fax: 415-788-6927 old-fashioned corporate PR. The fuel cell museum focuses on the monozukuri Email: [email protected] Fine-X and the conceptual i-unit give (“making things”) culture of Aichi Akihiro Oyaizu, Douglas Shelton museum patrons a look into what’s in store prefecture and highlights the Toyota for the future, and you’ll learn about how dynasty’s humble beginnings with Sakichi .

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