TOKYO -- He enjoyed a good game of baseball and breaking bread with workers in the factory cafeteria. He relished adventuring in Africa and the occasional pingpong match with Yoko Ono.
But Tatsuro Toyoda also loved America, and did more than nearly anyone to lay Toyota Motor Corp.'s roots in the country destined to be the Japanese carmaker's biggest market.
Japan's automotive aristocracy shared those memories on Thursday in honoring the late Toyota president at a regal memorial service that drew diplomats, prime ministers, suppliers, dealers, labor bosses and a veritable who's who of Japan Inc. business leaders.
Some 1,700 people packed the cavernous reception hall at Tokyo's landmark Imperial Hotel to lay a single carnation in front of a white and purple dais bedecked in lilies and orchids.
Looking down from above was a larger-than-life portrait of Tatsuro, who died Dec. 30 at age 88. Under that, front and center, was an offering from none other than the emperor of Japan.
Numerous Toyota executives, past and present, also were on hand. Those flying in included North America CEO Jim Lentz, Latin America CEO Steve St. Angelo, board member Mark Hogan, Toyota Research Institute boss Gill Pratt and U.S. sales chief Bob Carter.
"He had a dream of making Toyota a company beloved by American people," said Akio Toyoda, Tatsuro's nephew and the company's current president.
"Uncle Tatsuro loved Japan, and he also really loved America," Toyoda said, reading from a prepared script delivered on a serving tray by white-gloved attendants.
