Akio Juku | “Ask Me Anything” — Toyota Technical Skills Academy Students | Toyota Times News

At the Akio Juku, held at Toyota Technical Skills Academy in Aichi, final-year students faced Chairman Toyoda for the first time just days before their graduation. The details hinted at in last week’s Voice-Only Toyota Times News are now revealed. When Chairman Toyoda said he would take questions, the students eagerly raised their hands. ―What should I do right after I join the company? “For the first three months, your mind is fresh—so ask questions. Ask as many as you can.” ―If you could give your past self one piece of advice, what would it be? “Work harder! …No, I did work hard. Maybe I should say…” Through the dialogue, Chairman Toyoda encouraged them as they prepared to take their first steps into adulthood: “People tell you not to run away—but sometimes, you just want to.” “The one thing you must take care of is yourself.” The final question, decided by a game of rock-paper-scissors, was a completely unexpected challenge: “I want to build self-confidence, so please arm wrestle with me.” When Chairman Toyoda was asked to write a message to the Academy, he wrote the kanji “ba” (place) and ended with some words of encouragement: “Wherever you go, you will find your place.” Finally, he gave students a ride in his GR Yaris Rally2, ripping through the school grounds and etching the sound, smell, and thrill of driving into their memories. 【Related Links】 https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/18... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/18... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/10... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/16... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/01... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/07... https://toyotatimes.jp/en/newscast/17... [Chapters] 00:00 Opening 01:09 Akio Juku for the graduating class 03:44 Advice on buying your first car and managing money 08:53 Ask as many questions as you can in your first three months 11:21 Plenty of moments I wish I could erase 14:24 Chairman Akio Toyoda’s dream car 16:09 You are the producer of your own life 21:16 Technical skills are Japan’s national treasures 22:46 Someone Chairman Toyoda admires—though they’ve never met 26:08 Ending with an arm-wrestling match? 28:01 Message from Chairman Toyoda to the students 29:16 Taking students for a ride around the school grounds