Why the company is called "Toyota" and not "Toyoda" (as per my local paper)

[HopeHoops]

1. "Toyota" sounds better.
2. "Toyota" is written in Japanese with exactly eight brush strokes and eight is considered a lucky number.
3. "Toyoda" means "fertile rice field" and the name change helped break with Japan's agricultural past.

They didn't cite any references for that, but it is all plausible.

[LibertyLover]

1. My understanding is that the founder of Toyota Motors

went to a numerologist and was advised that changing the final syllable from "da" to "ta" would increase prosperity for the company. Not only is the name written with 8 characters - as you mention, a lucky number - but it ends with a voiceless consonant which is considered clearer, while a voiced consonant is considered to be murky. :shrug: I guess that has something to do with the Japanese preference for clean.

[HopeHoops]

2. Interesting. I wondered about the "sounds better" part. That makes sense.

[DefenseLawyer]

3. George Lucas threatened to sue. n/t

[HopeHoops]

4. LOL! Reminds me of the shitheads at a company that offered a "New Toyota" as a prize.

It was quite a while ago, but what I remember of it is that management got the employees all fired up about some contest and the winner would get a "new Toyota". They held a big ceremony for the woman who won and presented her with a "new toy Yoda". Management of course thought it was hilarious. The woman suffered ridicule for both her pre-presentation excitement and her reaction to the "joke". I believe she won her court battle with the company.

It amazes me just how fucking clueless management can be. I don't consider that at all within the realm of "jokes".

[Maru Kitteh]

5. Toy Yoda

[HopeHoops]

6. LOL! See my post #4 - Thanks for the visual!