A Young Employee’s MAZDA MX-5 Journey: Sharing Joy with the Car-Loving Generation of the Future

"I've always suffered from terrible motion sickness and never really enjoyed traveling by car," shares Ami Kudo, now in her fifth year at Mazda. Born in Tokyo, Kudo spent her childhood without ever needing a car: her family home was just five minutes from the nearest station, and family trips were always by train or shinkansen.

It wasn’t until the winter of her final year in high school that cars entered her life. Having secured a university place through the referral system, Kudo found herself with time on her hands while her peers focused on entrance exams. On a whim, she decided to get her driving license – thinking of it more of a nice-to-have then a necessity.

When spring brought the new academic year and she started university in the Kanto area, Kudo discovered that having a driving license made her unique among her peers.

"Let's rent a car and go for a drive!" became her perfect conversation starter, with responses much bigger than she anticipated. Her license helped her create new connections. Thanks to her driving, everyone could have fun exploring together. It transformed what had been just a piece of plastic into a source of genuine pride.

Her first long-distance drive was to Enoshima in Kanagawa. Kudo recalls how she was pure nerves—gripping the steering wheel with her friend in the passenger seat, determined to get them both safely to their destination. Successfully completing that first trip gave her a sense of accomplishment she hadn't expected and made it all the more memorable. Four months later came the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway to Kisarazu, then ten months after that, a minivan rental for a group trip to Hyogo Prefecture. Each journey marked another first. From highway driving and multiple passengers, to trips outside the Kanto region, Kudo gradually improved her skills.

When asked if she minded always being the driver, Kudo laughed. "I'm more grateful that my friends put up with my poor driving while I practiced! When they say 'Thank you for driving us!' or 'We wouldn't have been able to come here without you,' it always makes me so happy." These experiences planted the seed of wanting to find a job where she could bring joy to people through cars.

As Kudo became more confident behind the wheel, her focus shifted from simply getting from A to B safely to finding genuine joy in the act of driving itself. She started experimenting with different car brands when renting, comparing the driving experience.

Her enthusiasm proved contagious. Friends who had been content as passengers began getting their own licenses. Her love of cars even helped her connect with like-minded people at her part-time job, transforming driving from a solitary pleasure into something she could share and discuss.

Soon Kudo was driving longer distances in single days, using the holidays to venture as far as Tohoku and Kyushu with her friends. The freedom to explore unknown places became addictive. For her, cars had evolved far beyond mere transportation.

Entering her third year at university, it was time to think about a career after graduation. Kudo was torn between applying for car dealerships or manufacturers. "Dealerships serve customers who already need and want cars," she reasoned, "but I wanted to convey the value of cars to people who didn't think they needed one." The choice was clear: she wanted to work for a manufacturer.

But why Mazda specifically? "I fell in love with Mazda car design," Kudo says simply. Her first encounter with a Mazda was through a car-sharing MAZDA MX-5. It stood out immediately among all the other vehicles, but it wasn’t just its appearance, the driving experience was equally as impressive. Most surprisingly, her motion sickness was barely noticeable in the passenger seat. Kudo felt that this was the perfect car for her, and it left a lasting impression.

Her parents were overjoyed when she announced her decision to join Mazda. Her father, who had never talked about cars before, suddenly revealed his hidden passion for driving. "You've got to try a sports car with stick shift. It's such an amazing experience," he told her, convincing Kudo to get her manual transmission license.

Starting at Mazda brought major life changes. Busy days filled with learning new duties, train commutes past gently rolling mountains and Seto Inland Sea islands, and the satisfaction of meaningful work. Yet she missed the sense of freedom from her student days when she could drive whenever inspiration struck.

Six months into her career, the longing grew too strong to ignore. She wanted her own car. Not a rental, not car-sharing, but a car that she could drive whenever she chose, making the best use of her free time.

Kudo was still thinking about which car to buy when dealership training began. As she encountered a diverse array of customers, Kudo began to reflect on her own assumptions about MAZDA MX-5 drivers. She had always imagined them as male car enthusiasts. But working in the dealership, with both men and women coming for test drives, she realized this was unfounded. Learning about women-only MAZDA MX-5 clubs in some regions was another revelation. The MAZDA MX-5 was the car she’d always dreamed of owning, and now there was nothing holding her back.

The decisive moment can as she flicked through a catalogue and landed on the MAZDA MX-5 RF in Platinum Quartz Metallic. To Kudo, it was more than a car. It was like a woman of effortless style, the embodiment of mature sophistication. She knew this was the one and, remembering her father's advice, bought the manual transmission version.

"Driving with stick shift feels like I’m really putting my driving skills to the test," Kudo explains. "I feel more in control, like I’m moving rather than being moved. That adds so much to the fun." She laughs remembering her first long trip in her own car, when she stalled three times.

Now when she visits family in Tokyo, father-daughter drives have become a treasured tradition. Her father's enthusiasm has been rekindled. He bought his own car and now participates in Mazda Fan Festa parade runs*. Knowing her car sparked this joy makes Kudo especially happy, and her desire to share that feeling with others continues to drive her work.

In her role in Corporate Social Responsibility, Kudo visits elementary and middle schools throughout Hiroshima, bringing Mazda cars as part of educational outreach on manufacturing and environmental initiatives.

Children's eyes light up at the sight of the two-seater MAZDA MX-5, rare in their daily lives. "I want to drive this car someday!" "I'm getting my license when I grow up!" they exclaim with infectious excitement. For some, it’s the first time to experience a car. "It's like having your own room!" "It feels like a secret lair!" Their honest reactions offer fresh perspectives that remind Kudo why this work matters.

"I want to expand their horizons," Kudo says earnestly. She knows not all these children will choose car ownership as adults, especially as young people's interest wanes.

But if even one child carries this excitement into adulthood and has their world expanded through cars, she considers it a success. That's why she shares the appeal now, planting seeds that may take years to bloom but make the effort worthwhile.

Her philosophy is simple: the best way to bring joy to others isn't by sacrificing your own happiness, but by ensuring you're having fun yourself. Kudo has always loved using cars to bring joy to others, but discovered it works both ways. Cars have expanded her own horizons and brought her immense happiness. She continues sharing that joy because she experiences it so deeply herself.

Among MAZDA MX-5 drivers exists a culture of waving when passing each other on the road. Originally from motorcycle culture, it’s been embraced by the MAZDA MX-5 community. This simple gesture continues to connect drivers like Kudo. As she thinks about where to drive today, it’s a gesture that reminds her she's part of a community that connects drivers everywhere.