Until late last year it appeared to be a horse race for the presidency between Mr. Toyoda and Mr. Kinoshita 63 the right-hand man to Mr. Watanabe the current president.

• 直到去年年底，丰田章男和木下光男在总裁的竞争中还难分高下。现年63岁的木下光男是丰田现任总裁渡边捷昭的得力助手。