Mr. Minoru Hayashi stepped down as the president of Dome Co. Ltd. and the chairperson of the Japan Motor-Racing Industry Association, the JMIA, on 31st August 2012. Mr. Hiroshi Fushida has succeeded to the presidency at Dome and Mr. Kiyoshi Oiwa, TOMS Co., Ltd. has taken over as the chairperson of the JMIA with immediate effect. Mr. Hayashi will keep contributing to car designing projects at Dome as a special advisor, but has entrusted Mr. Fushida the management of the whole company. Mr. Hayashi still remains in JMIA as one of the directors and makes his contribution to the organisation under Mr. Oiwa's management.

Note: With regard to the detail of Mr. Hayashi's resignation as the chairman of the JMIA, please refer to the news release from the JMIA

Message from Mr. Hayashi
The news might be a surprise to some people, but I am already 67. Thinking I have less than 3 years before celebrating my 70th birthday, it shouldn't be a big surprise that I step down from the presidency for the next generation. Everybody I have told my successor quickly pointed out Fushida is actually in the same school year as me. He was indeed born in the same "school" year as I was, but not in the same year. So, Dome has become 8-month younger, precisely.

Putting the age issue aside, let's go back to the main topic. If you were in the professional motor racing industry, you would have to get along with a few huge organisations so called automotive companies. In my long experience in this industry, I have found the chemistry between myself and office workers in such large organisations absolutely awful for whatever reason. It is much easier to keep a good relationship with them than with bureaucrat, officers or council workers, indeed, but still I am always heavily stressed when trying to keep good company with them. This is a serious issue for me as the president of Dome. If you don't try to overcome this issue, you would seriously damage the relationship between your company and their company as well as between you and they. To make the matter worse, I have openly criticised the way the Japanese motor racing has been organised. As a result of these, it has become obvious more and more that automotive companies are not happy to work with me and that I am the most significant factor retarding the growth of Dome.

I have worked hard to boost the business opportunities for the Japanese motor racing industry and also to develop the engineering capability in Japan under the difficult condition when the organisations against my opinion were very reluctant to do business with my company simply because I am the president. Reviewing the whole picture again, I now suspect my presence actually discourages people in the industry to spend money domestically rather than encourages. This is a joke. I have finally realised there is no seat for me in the current Japanese automotive racing. You can find more information in the latest News Release with regard to my resignation from the Chairman of the JMIA on the JMIA website or in "The Last Wishes to The Japanese Motor Racing" I will release soon if you need more stories behind my decision.

I am an extremist in general, which was the case again this time. I completely lost my interests in projects related to the Japanese motor racing quickly. However I still had to remember that there were a few on-going projects at Dome, that I had responsibility for the employees' lives, and that it is a serious sin to dump all the skills, know-how, experience and facilities for racecar engineering, which is in danger of extinction in Japan. My hope was on Fushida. I asked him, well, it's not quite right to use the word "asked". I actually threatened him to close down the company if he did not take my position over. Fushida is such a responsible man that he accepted my "threat". The agreement between him and me is Dome will not waste money on motor racing as if it is a hobby any more, but Dome will expand its business seriously utilising the technological assets we have accumulated. What I would like to stress is I have lost my interests anything related to Japanese motor racing but not in designing cars. My main job in Dome will be managing car design but I am also actively involved in the sports-car project based in South-East Asia. I am going to release the details when the project has made enough progress but not now. I can hear some of you opening a bottle of champagne to celebrate my resignation. I have to say it is irritating for me that the majority would be happy with the news and that I feel a sense of defeat. Still, my decision is concrete this time. I drop my gun and show the white flag.

The serious nuisance for the Japanese motor racing has gone. I am looking forward to seeing it reforming and reviving drastically.

If you say Dome has been like a sushi bar run by a stubborn boss, the new Dome managed by President Fushida will be a traditional restaurant famous for its welcoming atmosphere. Don't hesitate to pop in the reception, everyone.

Message from Mr. Fushida
This news release should be a big surprise to most of you. Being alongside of Hayashi proposing many radical ideas, setting up the JMIA and devoting himself to the voluntary project simply driven by a pure wish to see a further growth of Japanese motor racing, it has been fairly obvious to me the gap between his vision and the reality is enormous and that it would not be too long before Hayashi retires.
Hayashi has been completely knocked down by the hard facts that few understand his ideal and that his effort has changed little. As Hayashi writes above, I am pretty sure he would have closed Dome down if I hadn't taken his position over.
Luckily I have a long-term connection with Dome and know the situation deep inside the company, and thus I have no doubt I am the best to succeed to the president of the company. Having said that, Hayashi's management method is very unique, which I don't think anybody else can use. My intention is managing Dome in my down-to-earth style but not in Hayashi's. It is fortunate for me Dome has invaluable technological asset accumulated in its long history. I am confident to grow Dome taking the most advantage of it. Growth of Dome as a racecar constructor will prove Hayashi's vision, "to develop and promote Japanese motor racing by nurture the motorsport technology and industry", is right.
I will appreciate your further help and encouragement from now on.