Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
W. B. SWIM
LILAC HAS STARTLED the motorcycle world in Japan by announcing the establishment of the U.S. Marusho Corporation in Los Angeles and the contracting with this American distributor to export 200 Lilac 500cc model R-92 motorcycles a month. The company was bankrupt in 1961 and only last year resumed production of motorcycles on a very small scale. In fact. Lilac made just 153 motorcycles during all of 1963, only 17 of them in the over 250cc class. Production this year has not increased to any startling degree, either, with the total being 38 (10 over 250cc) in
January, 24 (10) in February, 38 (2) in March, and 36 (15) in April. At the same time the company announced the changing of its name in Japan from Marusho Motorcycle Industrial Co., Ltd. to Lilac Co., Ltd. Lilac has been the brand name of their motorcycles all along. Lilac also reports many inquiries from the Philippines and orders for KM) 15()cc and 125cc motorcycles. The company plans to appoint an agent in the Philippines shortly. Exports to the U.S. were scheduled to begin with 50 machines in late July and 50 the next month, with larger shipments scheduled from September.
Honda has a sports version of their 90cc motorcycle under development and expected for local sale soon, with exports beginning not long afterward. Details of the machine have not been made public, but it is known that the model C-200 engine is used and the frame is tubular in
this new sports machine. Honda also has just released the first pictures for overseas publication of two other sports models which have been on sale in Japan for some time, as reported in this column in May. They are the model CB-160 Super Sports and model CB-125 Super Sports.
Tohatsu is back in business after weathering a financial storm which broke late in February. At one time it looked as if
the firm, which has a history of over 50 years as a maker of internal combustion engines, might go under. Motorcycle production was stopped, and shipments overseas delayed by labor union tactics. Now, however, the company has received a goahead from Japanese government officials to reorganize the company. The president told eve i i WORÍ D that the firm's three factories will be back in production shortly. Incidentally, Tohatsu even in the darkest period guaranteed continued parts supply to service the machines sold overseas.
Honda Motor earned more in the six months ending Feb. 29 than any of the other 74 Japanese companies with a similar amount of capitalization, the national taxation bureau announced. Honda earned 3,258,000.000 yen ($9,050.000). Second highest earner in the $277.777 capitalization class was a department store «which reported income of 2.672.000.000 yen.
Honda rider Mitsuo Tamura made it his day with three wins out of five finals plus his three elimination races recently at the 2nd All Japan Dirt Track Races. Honda nabbed four of five finals and Bridgestone took the other. Tamura warn the Over 251cc, 250cc and 125cc class and made it look easy at the Kawaguchi cinder
track. He had the edge on the competition, as he rode the same track as a successful professional ten years ago at the same time your correspondent was trying to make a living on the cinders there. With the 90cc in competition for only the fourth time, Bridgestone won this class and also placed a third, as well as getting a 4th in the 50cc race, which a Honda won. But it was a Honda day, w'ith that brand placing 19 in the top 30 in the five classes. Suzuki had 7 trophy winners, Bridgestone 3 and Tohatsu 1.
Kawasaki is reportedly developing a I25cc twin for Grand Prix racing next year. The firm has never competed abroad before, and indeed only began turning out competition bikes and gjving factory support to local racing in Japan this spring.
It was Suzuki's day at the 4th North Japan Moto-Cross, with four out of five winners. Suzuki riders took the Open, 250cc. 90cc and 50cc and a Yamaha won the 125cc. Of the top 15 machines in the five classes. 10 were Suzukis, 3 Yamahas,
1 Bridgestone and 1 Kawasaki. •
