Only one photo today, as I spent the morning on email and the phone, then went to the hotel most of the IMVP were at to catch a 2-hour bus ride to Kanto Auto Works. This specialized car factory is a subsidiary of Toyota and makes a wide range of models in very clever ways (they make all those doofy retro taxis you see in Tokyo, but also some Lexuses). But I have only one photo. The factory is almost on the slopes of Mount Fuji but as it was snowing (yes, snowing!) one could not see the mountain. And then when we got to the plant they banned all picture-taking. Dang. By the time we got back to Tokyo: night. So... only one photo, of genuine snow falling outside a roadside rest area we stopped at for lunch! (Apparently this place has music concerts during the summer... sure, why not stop at a highway rest area for some jammin' tunes!?) Maybe more excitement and photos tomorrow... when we go to another Toyota subsidiary, Central Auto Works! Kanto was an amazing plant: I never saw such efficiency and quality from such old and lovingly-tended machinery, supplemented by automation that looked like it was made from parts thrown out by the local Home Depot. These guys are good at spending not one penny more than is needed.
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