On 6 August 2026, H.E. Anderson Mutatembwa, Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania to Japan, visited the Mazda Factory and Mazda Museum in Hiroshima, gaining firsthand insight into the company’s century-long journey of innovation, precision engineering, and manufacturing excellence.
Founded in 1920 as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd., the company came under the leadership of Jujiro Matsuda in 1921, was renamed Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. in 1927, and became Mazda Motor Corporation in 1984. Mazda introduced its first vehicle—the Mazda-Go three-wheeled truck—in 1931, followed by its first passenger car, the R360 Coupe, in 1960. The museum also showcases iconic vehicles such as the Cosmo Sport, the RX-7, and the legendary 787B, which became the first Japanese car to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991.
During the factory tour, the delegation observed Mazda’s highly automated production system. According to the tour briefing, the Hiroshima facility has the capacity to produce approximately 1,000 vehicles per day and currently manufactures nine different vehicle models for domestic and international markets.
The visit underscored Mazda’s enduring commitment to innovation, craftsmanship, and quality, which has made it one of Japan’s most respected global automotive brands.
