Soichiro Honda 本田宗一郎, (
1906-
1992) industrialist, born in
Iwata Gun[?],
Japan. He started as an apprentice mechanic in 1922 and opened his own garage in 1928. By 1934
he started a piston-ring production factory and in 1948 he began producing
motorcycles as president of the
Honda Corporation[?]. He remained president until 1973, stayed on as director and was appointed "supreme adviser" in 1983.