CENTURY - As the pinnacle brand of Toyota Motor Corporation — a world leader in automotive excellence — Century brings together the finest of Japanese craftsmanship and manufacturing. Its allure and capability, brimming with a sensibility for a new era, embody the very pride of Japan. | JAXURY AWARD 2026 | KODANSHA
Grand Prize

Grand Prize

Reasons for Selection

As the flagship brand of Toyota Motor Corporation, a global leader in the automotive industry, the “Century” embodies the pinnacle of Japanese craftsmanship. Now, the “Century” has emerged as an independent brand. Its charm and capabilities, brimming with the sensibilities of a new era, encapsulate the pride of Japan.

CENTURY

1,2.The Century Concept — a two-door coupe radiant in crimson — is a supreme luxury model realizing a vast and generous interior.
3 ~ 8. The phoenix emblem, synonymous with Century, casts its brilliance throughout the car: on the front grille inspired by kumiko woodwork, and beyond. The logo ahead of the front passenger seat is finished in Wajima urushi lacquer. The seat fabric is Nishijin weave, co-created with Tatsumura Textile, while the seatback features authentic mokume wood grain, co-created with Tendo Mokko. The partition beside the driver's seat takes the form of a light shade inspired by the threads of a loom. The welcome flare on the rear doors pulses on and off when opened and closed, drawing the eye with its illuminating function. The doors open in the kannonbiraki style, sliding both forward and rearward.
9. The Century Sedan has reigned as Japan's most prestigious chauffeured car for over half a century since its birth in 1967. From right: the first generation, the second generation released in 1997, and the third generation fully redesigned in 2018. The phoenix emblem — hand-carved by artisans over many hours — and the mirror-finish body with its seven-layer coating give form to Japanese aesthetic sensibility. The "kichomen" line etched into the side body is a traditional surface-finishing technique rooted in Heian-period furniture.

As the pinnacle brand of Toyota Motor Corporation — a world leader in automotive excellence — Century brings together the finest of Japanese craftsmanship and manufacturing. Its allure and capability, brimming with a sensibility for a new era, embody the very pride of Japan.

The first-generation Century was developed as "a luxury car that only Japan could create," featuring a phoenix emblem crafted in the Edo tradition of metal engraving and upholstery woven in Nishijin textile. Fifty-six years after its birth, in 2023, the Century SUV was born from a resolve to "create the next 100 years." Under the philosophy of "One of One" — a redefinition of the founding conviction that "no two should be the same" — it stands as a truly singular brand, uniting the mastery of skilled artisans with the latest technology. The coupe concept car unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show 2025 adds a vibrant expressiveness to a quietly dignified presence. Its envisioned ownership has also expanded — from passengers of chauffeured cars on weekdays to next-generation leaders who take the wheel themselves on weekends.

Cutting-Edge Technology and Traditional Craft for the Next Century

The Century Coupe has seen a dramatic evolution toward the next 100 years — with a greatly enhanced sense of space in the passenger seat and a refined elegance in the act of boarding and alighting. Advanced features such as a welcome flare in which the shippo (cloisonné) pattern glimmers on and off, and a rotating rear seat, are seamlessly fused with the mastery of Wajima lacquerware and Nishijin weaving — with an unwavering commitment to perfection in every detail.

Please note: The information published is based on data as of the magazine’s release in March 2026.

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