First Petroleum Motor Vhiecle Tested Run
19th January 1896
First motor vhiecle appearanced in Japan was a imported motorcycle which invented in Germany named H&W (Hildebrand & Wolfmuller). H&W was known as first produced motorcycle, and first machine which was given the name of motorad(motorcycle). One H&W was imported to Tokyo by a Japanese pioneer who named Shinsuke Jumonji, and had a public test run at palace plaza on 19th Jan.1896. This record had been buried under the history.

First Automobile began to run in Japan
2nd Febuary 1898
What was the first four wheeled Automobile which imported and started run in Japan? This record of French Panhard et Levassor is one of most correct and oldest evidence ever verified. An French trader brought this pioneer machine to Tokyo and drove it on the day in Tokyo. This picture was scetched by Georges Ferdinand Bigot who watched the running.

First Motor Race in Japan
3rd November 1901
On the day, three motors - each two/three/and four wheelers, were raced in Tokyo. They were American "Thomas Auto-Bi", "Thomas Auto-Tri", and a French "Gladiator" quadricycle. The measured speeds were each 36kmph, 25kmph, 29kmph, around an oval corse of Ueno park Tokyo. This photograph was taken at the start.

What was First Automobile Japanese Made? 5th Feb. 1905 / July 1904 (?)
This answer is still in the mistery. I would like to introduce two records we found out as of today.
･1905 Yoshida's omnibus with imported gasoline engine(left)
･1904? Yamaba's omnibus with his own steam engine(right)

Each pages will develop to introduce our motor hisitory, and Japanese way of motoring. This is a starting point to get it ! To be continued...

INDEX

• Prehistory -sorry, Japanese txt !
• Japanese Cycle and Motorcycles 1868-1912 -in preparation !
• Japanese Automobiles 1904-1939 -in preparation !
• Motor Culture in pre WW-2 Era -in preparation !
• Beginnings of Todays Japanese Automobile
• Manufacturers -in preparation !
• Mirror Site