The Phoenix effect: Mazda after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima to what it is today and how they got Hiroshima back on to it's feet

On the morning of August 6th, 1945, it was the birthday of founder Jujiro Matsuda. That day he went to get a haircut and go about his day. However, just after he finished his haircut and was driving away, the nuclear bomb Little Boy hit Hiroshima and obliterated the barber (the impact was about 50 yards away). Despite traveling farther away as Mr. Matsuda drove on, the blast knocked him from his car. At this point, you would probably expect the factory would also get reduced to rubble and ash.

Jujiro Matsuda, the founder of Mazda

But you’re wrong. In fact, the factory survived with minor damage because in between it and the blast was a mountain, which absorbed the majority of the impact. Because of this, they were able to go back to making what they’ve been making previously: 3 wheeled motorcycles. Back then, Mazda wasn’t known as Mazda, it was known as Toyo Kogyo Co. Ltd. Also, because it wasn’t very damaged, for a short while, it housed the Hiroshima prefectural government. It wasn’t just the government that Matusda housed at the plant, but victims of the aftermath as well.

Picture of Mazda's HQ, Hiroshima Japan

Now, Mazda is responsible for 32% of Hiroshima’s GDP and builds the 2, 3, 6, CX-5, CX-9, MX-5, and 124. It produced over 1 million cars in 2015.

I would go on more, but I can’t due to a lack of information. Sorry about that.