Toyota's "Meister" on Refining Land Cruisers: Constructing Roadways to Elevate Automobiles (First Installment)

Toyota's Land Cruiser Meister and his Legacy

Takanobu Fukuoka, affectionately known as the "Land Cruiser Meister," has spent nearly four decades shaping the iconic off-road vehicle. Fukuoka began his journey with Toyota in 1971, and since then, he has been instrumental in the development of the Land Cruiser, playing a significant role in its 70-year history.

In 1971, Fukuoka joined Toyota and became a test driver for passenger vehicles. His dedication to the Land Cruiser began in earnest when he was responsible for testing and evaluating various Land Cruiser models, including the 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 105, 120, 150, and 200 Series.

Fukuoka's contributions to the Land Cruiser's development extend beyond testing. He was responsible for the invention and implementation of numerous electronic control systems and functions, such as KDSS, Multi-Terrain Monitor, Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, Active Traction Control, Turn-Assist function, E-KDSS, and others. These innovations have played a crucial role in making the Land Cruiser a reliable and capable off-road vehicle.

One of Fukuoka's most notable accomplishments was the design of the off-road test course at Toyota's Shibetsu Proving Ground. This course, known as the F-Course, was constructed manually by Fukuoka and two others in charge of managing the course in 2013 and completed in 2014. The F-Course, named after Fukuoka, is renowned for its difficulty and is considered a benchmark for testing a vehicle's reliability and durability on rough terrain.

Sadayoshi Koyari, the Project General Manager, MS Product Planning, Mid-size Vehicle Company at Toyota Motor Corporation, joined the Land Cruiser development team in 1985. Koyari was taught the core values of "reliability," "durability," and "drivability on rough terrain" by Fukuoka. Koyari was awestruck by the F-Course's difficulty, stating that a car can only be called a Land Cruiser when it gets through the course.

Koyari remembers a particularly difficult forest course at the back of the F-Course site, which Fukuoka told him he wouldn't be able to call himself a Land Cruiser Chief Engineer without being able to get through. This challenge served as a driving force for Koyari, pushing him to excel in his work and uphold the high standards set by Fukuoka.

Fukuoka's influence extends beyond the Shibetsu Proving Ground. He is currently involved in developing specialized tires and designing off-road driving courses at various test sites around the country. His dedication to the Land Cruiser and off-road vehicles has left a lasting impact on the industry.

Despite retiring from Toyota in 2016, Fukuoka's Land Cruiser development contract expired only in 2021. His legacy continues to live on, shaping the future of the Land Cruiser and off-road vehicles as a whole. The F-Course at Shibetsu Proving Ground, with its challenging terrain capable of "completely breaking" cars, serves as a testament to Fukuoka's commitment to testing a vehicle's reliability and durability.

The first-generation Celsior, launched in 1989, was praised for its improved performance in power and silence, achievements made possible thanks to the Shibetsu Proving Ground. The Celsior, like the Land Cruiser, embodies Fukuoka's core values of reliability, durability, and drivability on rough terrain.

As we look to the future, Fukuoka's legacy continues to inspire those working on the latest Land Cruiser models. The development of the latest 300 series, led by Koyari, is a testament to the enduring impact of Fukuoka's teachings and contributions to the Land Cruiser's development. The Land Cruiser, with its rich history and Fukuoka's influence, remains a symbol of off-road excellence.

Toyota's "Meister" on Refining Land Cruisers: Constructing Roadways to Elevate Automobiles (First Installment)