Kanto Auto Works Kanto Auto Works In April 1946, Kanto Auto Works was established in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan, as an independent company called "Kanto Electric Motor Works" which focused on repairing cars, assembling electric vehicles and producing bus bodies. In early 1948, it became a Toyota contractor, producing auto bodies. During its early years, the company also assembled some cars for Toyota (Toyota SB, Toyota Master, Toyota Crown). The company also diversified into other products such as yachts and prefabricated homes. In 1950, it adopted the "Kanto Auto Works" name. In 1960, the company became a permanent car assembler through a new Yokosuka
1923 Great Kantō earthquake died when their feet became stuck on melting tarmac. The single greatest loss of life was caused by a fire tornado that engulfed the Rikugun Honjo Hifukusho (formerly the Army Clothing Depot) in downtown Tokyo, where about 38,000 people were incinerated after taking shelter there following the earthquake. The earthquake broke water mains all over the city, and putting out the fires took nearly two full days until late in the morning of September 3. A strong typhoon centered off the coast of the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture brought high winds to Tokyo Bay at about the same time