Nov. 02, 2020

Figure Skater Rika Kihira Joins Toyota

Toyota City, Japan, November 2, 2020―Toyota Motor Corporation announced that ladies' figure skater Rika Kihira joined Toyota on November 1, 2020.

Toyota has organized sports teams within the company since its foundation and has a long history of supporting athletic endeavors in many different forms. Actively backing the Olympic movement since 1996, Toyota became a Gold Sponsor of the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. In 2015, the company reached an agreement with the International Olympic Committee to become an Official Worldwide Olympic Partner and an agreement with the International Paralympic Committee to become an Official Worldwide Paralympic Partner. Through these agreements, Toyota has shown its intent to continue supporting the Olympic and Paralympic movements to help create a peaceful society without discrimination through sports in which everyone can participate with peace and equality.

Kihira made the following comment about joining Toyota: "I am delighted to be given this opportunity to join Toyota starting from this season. Currently, I am training in Switzerland. As there are many figure skating competitions that also take place overseas, being able to receive support from Toyota employees and affiliates in various countries around the world gives me confidence. I look forward to being able to communicate with everyone. I would like to say thank you to Toyota for accepting me into the company and will do everything I can to grow as an employee and athlete at this exciting time. Thank you again for your support."

Kihira's biography and main sporting accomplishments are as follows

Date of birth: July 21, 2002

Place of birth: Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture

High School: N High School

Main sporting achievements

2017 Japan Junior Figure Skating ChampionshipsChampion
2018 ISU GP Internationaux de FranceChampion
2018 ISU Grand Prix FinalChampion
2018 ISU GP NHK TrophyChampion
2019 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating ChampionshipsChampion
2019 Japan Figure Skating ChampionshipsChampion
2020 ISU Four Continents Figure Skating ChampionshipsChampion

Toyota Motor Corporation works to develop and manufacture innovative, safe and high-quality products and services that create happiness by providing mobility for all. We believe that true achievement comes from supporting our customers, partners, employees, and the communities in which we operate. Since our founding over 80 years ago in 1937, we have applied our Guiding Principles in pursuit of a safer, greener and more inclusive society. Today, as we transform into a mobility company developing connected, automated, shared and electrified technologies, we also remain true to our Guiding Principles and many of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals to help realize an ever-better world, where everyone is free to move.