Suzuki Kenji
| Birth Place | Makabe District, Ibaraki Prefecture |
|---|---|
| Birth | 1920 |
| Death | 1990 |
Overview
Suzuki Kenji was the founder of Enkei Corporation.
Biography
After WWII, he began working with metalware at an aircraft manufacturer. One day, he met Honda Sōichiro who was then trying to use hot-water bags as fuel tanks for motorcycles. This encounter led him into the auto parts industry. The motorcycle parts manufacturer, Enshū Keigōkin (present Enkei Corporation), he found earned success.
However, the company faced a crisis in 1966. Suzuki took on a challenge in order to overcome this. The company began manufacturing aluminum wheels for the first time in Japan to meet American demand. American companies approved this product in 1967. Three years later, thirty thousands of its wheels were exported to US.
Reference
“Enkei 40 Nen-shi" (40 Years History of ENKEI 40)