Mazda MX-5 father Shunji Tanaka passed away in early December at the age of 75, as one of his Facebook friends reported.
Everyone knows the legendary Mazda MX-5, and in particular its first generation, with its pop-up lights and its adorable face, which gives the impression that it is smiling. However, few people really know who is behind this special design, which is still popular around the world today. It is Shunji Tanaka, a Japanese designer who has just passed away, at the age of 75. Very discreet, and little known to the general public, he died earlier this month. It is on Facebook that the sad news was announced, by one of his friends, who did not specify the cause of his death.
A well-marked course
In the post, it is then specified that the last words of the designer were quite simply ” i have no regrets in my life “. If we actually know very little about the life of Shunji Tanaka, we do know that it was he who was behind the iconic design of the first generation Mazda MX-5, launched in 1989. In In fact, the Japanese firm had launched a competition between its different design centers, and it was the one in California that won it. The proposal was then sent to Japan and then reworked by Tanaka, who considered the design too American. He then said that the California team had ” ate too much steak and forgot the delicacy of Japanese cuisine ».
Subsequently, the designer also worked on the style of the Mazda 929, before going to Kawasaki to create the design of the brand’s motorcycles. For its part, the Mazda MX-5 was a resounding success, still today being the best-selling convertible in the world.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Mazda MX-5: slight update for the roadster
The next Mazda MX-5 will still be thermal
Used Mazda MX-5 “3”: our opinion, from 9,000 euros
Mazda MX-5 father Shunji Tanaka passed away in early December at the age of 75, as one of his Facebook friends reported.
Everyone knows the legendary Mazda MX-5, and in particular its first generation, with its pop-up lights and its adorable face, which gives the impression that it is smiling. However, few people really know who is behind this special design, which is still popular around the world today. It is Shunji Tanaka, a Japanese designer who has just passed away, at the age of 75. Very discreet, and little known to the general public, he died earlier this month. It is on Facebook that the sad news was announced, by one of his friends, who did not specify the cause of his death.
A well-marked course
In the post, it is then specified that the last words of the designer were quite simply ” i have no regrets in my life “. If we actually know very little about the life of Shunji Tanaka, we do know that it was he who was behind the iconic design of the first generation Mazda MX-5, launched in 1989. In In fact, the Japanese firm had launched a competition between its different design centers, and it was the one in California that won it. The proposal was then sent to Japan and then reworked by Tanaka, who considered the design too American. He then said that the California team had ” ate too much steak and forgot the delicacy of Japanese cuisine ».
Subsequently, the designer also worked on the style of the Mazda 929, before going to Kawasaki to create the design of the brand’s motorcycles. For its part, the Mazda MX-5 was a resounding success, still today being the best-selling convertible in the world.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Mazda MX-5: slight update for the roadster
The next Mazda MX-5 will still be thermal
Used Mazda MX-5 “3”: our opinion, from 9,000 euros
